SPAIN/FILE: FOOTBALL/SOCCER: Manchester United set to sign Real's Di Maria - reports

Record ID: 190398

  • Title: SPAIN/FILE: FOOTBALL/SOCCER: Manchester United set to sign Real's Di Maria - reports
  • Date: 24th August 2014
  • Summary: MADRID, SPAIN (AUGUST 5, 2014) (REUTERS) DI MARIA STRETCHING DURING TRAINING SESSION DI MARIA STRETCHING ALONGSIDE SPANISH MIDFIELDER XABI ALONSO (LEFT) AND PORTUGUESE DEFENDER FABIO COENTRAO (SECOND FROM LEFT)
  • Embargoed: 8th September 2014 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Italy
  • Country: Italy
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVACYWADXQ7KDY7L429LHRFNP9HT
  • Story Text: Manchester United are close to signing Real Madrid's Argentina winger Angel Di Maria in a deal that is expected to smash the British transfer record, according to media reports.
    British newspapers said a move for the 26-year-old is likely to cost more than the 50 million pounds ($82.84 million) Chelsea paid Liverpool for Spain striker Fernando Torres in 2011.
    Di Maria cost Real 20 million pounds from Benfica in 2010 and he was a key part of the team that won the club's 10th European Cup last term but he has since fallen out of favour and was omitted from the squad for the Spanish Super Cup this week.
    The Argentine, who looked strong in pre-season after suffering a thigh injury in the World Cup quarter-finals which forced him out of the tournament, has turned down a new deal at the Bernabeu having been linked with the Premier League.
    "The club and myself agree on Di Maria's situation which is clear because the player asked to leave in the summer and rejected an offer from the club and that is why we tried to find another player," Real manager Ancelotti said on Thursday (August 21). "That's it. This is a situation that has to be solved by the player himself."
    The Daily Mail reported that Di Maria had already spoken with United manager Louis van Gaal about his likely role and said he was expected to be given the iconic number seven shirt worn by George Best, Eric Cantona and David Beckham.
    United declined to comment on the reports.
    ($1 = 0.6036 British Pounds)
  • Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2014. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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