Guillem Balague @GuillemBalague · 37s Cristiano told di MarÃa United is the club to go. Mendes is returning to Europe from Singapur to finalise deal. All very very close. ReplyReplied to 0 times RetweetRetweeted 356 times356 FavoriteFavorited 62 times62 More Guillem Balague @GuillemBalague · 25s Real and United are very close in the valuation of the player. He will cost MORE THAN 60m euros, could be 70. He will wear number 7 ReplyReplied to 0 times RetweetRetweeted 166 times166 FavoriteFavorited 19 times19 More Guillem Balague @GuillemBalague · 45s Things finally moving about di MarÃa: meetings (agents, clubs) will take place early nxt wk. He has chosen United
Sky.... Manchester United are set to sign Real Madrid winger Angel di Maria in a deal worth over £48 million, Sky Sports Spanish football expert Guillem Balague can exclusively reveal. At long last there is significant movement in the seemingly never ending, ‘Will he stay or will he go’ saga of Angel di Maria. It now looks certain that he will leave Real Madrid and become a Manchester United player. The final meetings will take place at the beginning of next week. United will pay more than 60m Euros for the player. More than 60. A great deal for Madrid. I can exclusively reveal that, as we speak, football agent Jorge Mendes is on a flight from Singapore – where he has been putting to bed the purchase of Valencia by Peter Lim – to Europe, with a view to sealing the sale of Di Maria to United. So advanced, in fact, are the negotiations that it has already been agreed that Di Maria will wear the number seven shirt, worn in the past by no lesser players than David Beckham, Eric Cantona, Cristiano Ronaldo, George Best and Bryan Robson. As soon as Di Maria knew of Manchester United’s interest he was very excited about the possibility of coming to Old Trafford. At first Paris Saint-Germain showed interest in singing him and said they were prepared to meet his wage demands of 8m Euros a year net but the deal offered by United was much more interesting to him. Firstly, United is a club with much more prestige throughout Europe, and secondly, it’s a new project where he knows he will be one of the leaders. Cristiano Ronaldo has also told him some great things about United and has succeeded in persuading him that it is a good option even though the club is not playing in Europe this season. He is also very excited about the prospect of working with Louis van Gaal and everyone is expecting that the deal will be closed soon. There is agreement between the club and the player and it is expected that the announcement will soon be made official because the positions of the two clubs are thought to be very close. United accept the valuation of the player above the 60m mark (Real paid 36 million to Benfica in 2010). The final cost of his transfer will depend on variables. There is absolutely no chance of Di Maria staying at Real Madrid, because despite just about everyone from all the players to the technical staff rating him very highly, Real Madrid have decided, primarily via their president Florentino Perez, that Di Maria cannot carry on at the club. It is also thought that as soon as Di Maria confirms that he will become a United player he will write a farewell letter to the Madrid fans explaining the reasons for his departure. He is very excited by the prospect and he is just the sort of player that Van Gaal is looking for.
G Balague: "As soon as Di Maria knew of Manchester United’s interest he was very excited about the possibility of coming to Old Trafford."
Balague: "As soon as Di Maria knew of Manchester United’s interest he was very excited about the possibility of coming to Old Trafford."
A better signing would be offering that sort of money to Arsenal for Ramsay. This signing is pointless without a DM and a world class CB or two.
Di Maria is a world-class player, he's a game changer, he will give us the x factor, something we've lacked since Ronaldo.
Hopefully we will in the next week, get that sorted and i can see challenging us for 4th or the title.
Not necessarily. We could get some experienced CBs from a premiership club if the targets are not available. But Di Maria coming to OT is really exciting. He played well in the WC and in la liga and he could be the difference between a draw and a win in tight games. Also symbolically important to show that United can flex their financial muscles when needed and that they can get their targets... It would be a very exciting buy.
One of europes best players last season playing central midfield for real madrid... Hes been signed because he covers all bases in terms of midfield and attack. Only two roles he cannot play in midfield to a high standard is a true dm. Also isnt a good striker. Everywhere else.... Hes capable. Mind you, i wouldnt waste him in midfield unless we go 433. He also brings pace. Something we lack and he will play the robben role imo. Worth getting excited about!
Granted, if you get a DM and a CB then Di Maria would be a great signing. That said the defensive side of the team is the weakest are of the squad and unless you have those positions covered then you will still get nowhere near top 5.
