Di Maria on brink of PSG switch

Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick has rejected interest from Paris Saint Germain as he has no intention of changing clubs, according to ESPN.

By May, when Madrid could have done with his help against Juventus in the Bernabeu, the shirts with Di Maria’s name no longer sold, old favourites like Wayne Rooney back at number one.

Di Maria was due to undergo tests at the Aspire Academy yesterday.

Purchased for a club-record £59.7million from Real Madrid just last summer, Di Maria struggled to make a lasting impact at Old Trafford and looks to be on the verge of an exit after just 12 months.

There were the well-documented off-field issues. The winger has one year left on his current deal with Manchester United and will pick up a wage similar to the £120,000 a week he now earns. Barcelona would have been subjected to a €10 million premium to Real Madrid, because of a clause in his contract.

And yes Di Maria’s title as the biggest flop of them all is justified. It was a sensational performance by a player who’d fused quality with commitment.

At Real, the majority of the 18-man Champions League final squad had cost more money in transfer fees. Remarkable given that he started only 20 matches.

“Van Gaal is expected to move quickly to sign a replacement for Di Maria“. With all the signings Van Gaal has made this transfer window though, it appears that he has come up with a basic formation and starting eleven.

There were key moments when Di Maria fell short.

It remains to be seen whether the Red Devils will be given a day off before the season curtain-raiser this Saturday afternoon, but Van Gaal continues to stamp his authority.

Van Gaal admitted that the 28-year-old is a flawless fit for United. He also proved the naysayers in the media wrong with all the pressure on him.

Di Maria wasn’t missed.

“It is a big difference with the Dutch league”.