Despite being the marquee buy of the transfer window last summer and the most expensive player ever purchased by an English club, Angel Di Maria may not be at Old Trafford much longer… if reports are to be believed, that is.
Spanish outlet Sport are claiming that Barcelona re readying a somewhat shock move to lure the ex-Real Madrid man back to La Liga, while there are been suggestions from Bild that Bayern Munich are interested in a swap deal involving Bastian Schweinsteiger. Interesting stuff.
Although there may be a temptation to cash in after a difficult opening season, perhaps keeping Di Maria is the best option for United… and here are FIVE reasons why.
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Early flurry
Despite the winter decline and the slide to the bench, Di Maria still ended the season just gone with 10 assists and three goals, with the majority of the tally on both counts coming in the opening months of the campaign. From the delightful chip against Leicester City – a game United did, however, lose – to early signs of the Argentine being the assist-king the fans were hoping for, it all looked bright.
Such a dip in form was to be expected given that Di Maria was adjusting to a new league and the lack of a winter break – the backbone of the season in Spain – may also have contributed after an arduous 2013/14 campaign and a lengthy World Cup chase.
A proven talent
A £59.7m buy, World Cup finalist and Man of the Match in the 2014 Champions League Final… Di Maria arrived with great credentials last summer. Although he flopped in his debut campaign, form is temporary, yet class is permanent, so the talent is very much still there, lurking below the surface.
After all, Di Maria is a La Liga winner and was thought of by more knowledgeable Real Madrid fans as the club’s key player before his departure, enforced by the capture of World Cup headline grabber, James Rodriguez.
Burden of the price-tag
With great value comes great responsibility. Di Maria’s fee may have been inflated due to United dealing with one of the richest clubs on the planet and the fact that he was a signing made without the club being in any form of European football put the switch further under the microscope.
The Argentine was given a somewhat unenviable starting block for a career in the Premier League – perhaps the most media-tracked division on the planet – but maybe next season with his fee ‘old news’ he may be able to escape that weight on his shoulders.
English adaptation
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It may be a little lazy to suggest that English football is the most demanding of the European elite leagues, but there is some bulk to claims that the Premier League is the most physically exhausting. Teams up and down the division employ an ‘up and at ‘em’ policy, meaning that there are no ‘dead rubbers’ – it’s not uncommon in Spain for lesser sides to rest key players when taking on the mighty Real Madrid or Barcelona. Also the lack of a winter break adds to the physical demands with games coming thick and fast around the festive period, while two domestic cup competitions creates the potential for fixture congestion, especially with FA Cup replays possible.
Could be the focal point
While Manchester United have the likes of Wayne Rooney in their ranks, there’s every chance Di Maria could be a good option for Van Gaal to build around. The Argentine is undoubtedly a world-class talent, but even the best players need a side paying to their strengths to shine – would Lionel Messi function to his current level in a long-ball set-up?