He had a lightning start to life in a United shirt scoring three goals and making six assists in just his first 10 games, beginning to make everyone think he was United’s saviour for the season – and that the worries that he would become another big money flop were forgotten.
However, fast forward to the end of the season and Angel Di Maria is being consistently outshone by Ashley Young, and has secured his place as a £60 million bench warmer. The fears that he would become another Juan Sebastián Verón were very real once again.
Di Maria however recognises this and has reportedly dismissed rumours linking him with a move to French giants PSG a number of times. Now he also knows he has to change. Both Louis van Gaall and his Argentine manager have told him of the importance that he changes his play in order to become successful in England’s top league.
Speaking at a press conference before Argentina’s friendly against Bolivia, Gerardo Martino came out with his support for Di Maria and his personal feelings on Angel’s current thoughts. “It’s hard to give an opinion and help him. It has to be decided by him and his family,” he said.
“I can tell that taking into account the kind of player we’re talking about, there’s no doubt that he has pride and will to improve. It’s logical, he wants to offer his best performances at Manchester United. He had a season when the ending was not good, but his beginning was really good.
“His form went from high to low, that’s clear. He knows that and is willing to change this image. Whatever makes him happy, we will be by his side.”
Martino is clearly a person who knows the Argentine winger well, having used him in a leading role during the World Cup and the two are reportedly close, with Di Maria still always being grateful for his faith to call Di Maria up when he was young.
There really still isn’t much concern from the Old Trafford staff, after all they all have the experience to know that every player goes through bad times as well as the good times and that it could be something as simple as building his muscle mass that changes his from an expensive bench warmer to a star player leading United to glory in all competitions in just a few years.
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