{"id":287866,"date":"2023-08-26T08:35:07","date_gmt":"2023-08-26T08:35:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportslifetale.com\/?p=287866"},"modified":"2023-08-26T08:35:07","modified_gmt":"2023-08-26T08:35:07","slug":"on-this-day-in-2014-man-utd-break-british-record-to-sign-angel-di-maria","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportslifetale.com\/soccer\/on-this-day-in-2014-man-utd-break-british-record-to-sign-angel-di-maria\/","title":{"rendered":"On this day in 2014: Man Utd break British record to sign Angel Di Maria"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Manchester United smashed the British transfer record when they completed the signing of Argentina\u2019s Angel Di Maria on this day in 2014.<\/p>\n
The Red Devils, in a rebuilding phase following the departure of their hugely successful manager Sir Alex Ferguson the year before, paid \u00a359.7million for the then 26-year-old.<\/p>\n
Di Maria, brought in by the club\u2019s new Dutch boss Louis van Gaal, arrived at United fresh from helping his old club Real Madrid seal their 10th European title the season before.<\/p>\n
Di Maria said at the time of his signing: \u201cI am absolutely delighted to be joining Manchester United. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time in Spain and there were a lot of clubs interested in me, but United is the only club that I would have left Real Madrid for.<\/p>\n
\u201cLouis van Gaal is a fantastic coach with a proven track record of success and I am impressed by the vision and determination everyone has to get this club back to the top \u2013 where it belongs. I now just cannot wait to get started.\u201d<\/p>\n
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However, things never really clicked for Di Maria at Old Trafford on the pitch. He also endured a fairly miserable time off it, after an attempted burglary at his home in February 2015.<\/p>\n
Less than a year later, he joined Paris St Germain, and told the French media that he did not have a great relationship with Van Gaal.<\/p>\n
Di Maria spent seven years at PSG before joining Juventus in 2022.<\/p>\n
Last year was a special one for him, as he played and scored in the World Cup final as Argentina beat France on penalties.<\/p>\n
Earlier this summer he rejoined Portuguese side Benfica, his first European club after leaving Rosario Central in 2007.<\/p>\n