Di Maria – I want to forget United spell
Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Angel Di Maria has said that he wants to forget about his torrid spell at Manchester United.
The 27-year-old joined United in the summer of 2014 for a club record fee of £59.7 million and inherited the number seven shirt, worn previously by the likes of George Best, Bryan Robson, Eric Cantona and Cristiano Ronaldo.
He got off to a flying start at Old Trafford, providing three goals and three assists in his first two months at the club, but the Argentinian never recovered his early-season form and left the Red Devils after just a year to join the French champions for an undisclosed fee, believed to be in the region of £44 million.
Di Maria was judged by many to be one of the worst signings of that 2014-15 season, with his departure prompting accusations from United fans that he never wanted to be in Manchester in the first place and that the only reason he joined the club was down to the fact that the Parisian club were being hindered by Financial Fair Play restrictions imposed on them.
Speaking to French magazine L’Equipe, Di Maria said that he had no regrets in leaving Old Trafford and called his time in Manchester ‘a sad experience’:
Manchester United was a sad experience. Things didn’t go as I had hoped. I was disappointed and it didn’t help me to rise to the surface.
Honestly, I don’t even remember anymore what happened and I don’t want to remember. I am happy to be here and that’s the most important thing.
While United have struggled somewhat this season in the Premier League, Di Maria has joined a PSG side that has run rampant in Ligue 1 – with the reigning champions 24 points ahead of Monaco going into this weekend’s fixture against Marseille.
However, Di Maria’s departure certainly rubbed United fans the wrong way and these comments will certainly increase those sentiments.