Di Maria: Utd wanted to sell me
Angel Di Maria said Manchester United wanted to sell him and called his departure from Old Trafford a ‘collective decision’ at his introductory news conference at Paris Saint-Germain earlier on Thursday.
The 27-year-old completed his transfer to PSG earlier in the day, signing a four-year contract after moving for a fee of €63 million (£44m), just one year after he joined United as their record signing.
United paid £59.7m for him last summer, but a move was on the cards after he scored just three goals in 27 Premier League appearances.
“Leaving United was not only my decision,” Di Maria said. “I’m here because they wanted to sell me, it was a collective decision. The three parties agreed. Me, Manchester United and PSG agreed the deal.
“Things didn’t quite work out at Manchester United for various reasons, but that’s in the past. Now it’s the present.
“I’m happy because I know my wife and child will be happy in Paris.”
But United’s alleged willingness to sell could come as a surprise to manager Louis van Gaal, who said last month that he didn’t know where Di Maria was after he failed to join up with the team on their preseason tour of North America.
Van Gaal also said later on the tour that he wanted Di Maria to stay at United.
It was also reported on Tuesday that the manager was upset after Di Maria had arrived in Qatar for his medical with permission from the Premier League club.
But all seemed to have been forgiven after Thursday’s deal, with a statement on United’s website saying: “Di Maria is now embarking on a new challenge and the club wishes him all the best for the future.”
Di Maria said PSG manager Laurent Blanc’s persistence helped him make his decision to join the French club.
“Laurent Blanc called me twice, and that meant a lot,” Di Maria said.
“I am very happy to be here at PSG. It has been several years that this team has tried to sign me.
“PSG’s ambition of the Champions League is also mine. I know they have a great project. I want to participate in this project and reach their objective of winning the Champions League.”
Di Maria will team with Uruguay striker Edinson Cavani, who joined PSG for a reported fee of €64m when the club broke the French transfer record in 2013.
He will also be reunited with Argentina teammates Javier Pastore and Ezequiel Lavezzi.
“Lavezzi has been telling me that PSG is a fantastic club,” Di Maria said. “One of the factors that brought me here is my friendship with Lavezzi.”
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