If it werent for the existence of the godlike Cristiano Ronaldo, an argument could be made that Angel Di Maria was the outstanding performer for Real Madrid last season. Having produced a stellar 17 assists for Los Blancos, the highest in the division, Di Maria capped a fine campaign by producing a Man of the Match display in the victorious Champions League final against cross-city rivals Athletico Madrid. So, one can imagine his dismay when he arrived back from his World Cup exploits to find £63 million Columbian playmaker James Rodriguez in the Madrid camp. With the writing very much splashed across the wall for the Argentinians future, with Madrid having replaced a former star performer Mezut Ozil with Gareth Bale in a very similar fashion the previous summer, a transfer request was formally submitted in a bid to seek pastures new.
''Di Maria has asked to leave and rejected an offer from the club. But if he does not find a future solution he stays. - Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti, August 2014.
Within the next week, the World Cup finalist was being paraded around Old Trafford, having agreed to part with £60 million for his services, and heralded as new boss Louis van Gaals marquee signing.
Recent Journalism & New Media graduate. Insatiable thirst for all things football, and hopes to break into the field of sports journalism in the near future.
Have made a significantly insignificant playing career out of receiving several slaps around the head for not passing the ball.
