MANCHESTER, England (AP) – Manchester United broke the British transfer-fee record by signing Angel Di Maria from Real Madrid for 59.7 million pounds (US$99 million) today, extending a summer spending spree that was sparked by their most disappointing season in a generation.
The 26-year-old Di Maria joined on a five-year contract, taking United’s spending to about 130 million pounds ($215 million) in the summer transfer window as England’s most successful club seeks to revive the fortunes under new manager Louis van Gaal.
Di Maria was one of Madrid’s key players last season when the Spanish team became European champion for a tenth time, but rejected the offer of a new contract during the offseason and asked to leave.
“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,” Di Maria said. “Louis 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 – where it belongs. I now just cannot wait to get started.”
Di Maria’s transfer fee breaks the previous British record of 50 million pounds (then $81 million), set in 2011 when Fernando Torres joined Chelsea from Liverpool. Four players – Gareth Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo, Luis Suarez and James Rodriguez – have cost more than Di Maria in world football, while Zinedine Zidane moved from Juventus to Madrid for a similar fee in euro terms in 2001.
“Angel is a world-class midfielder but most importantly he is a team player,” Van Gaal said. “There is no doubting his immense natural talent. He is a tremendously fast and incisive left-footed player who puts fear into the most accomplished defence.
“His dribbling skills and his ability to take on and beat opponents are a joy to watch. He is an excellent addition to the team.”
The left-footed Di Maria, who can play anywhere across the midfield, will provide United with an injection of pace and technical ability in that area.
Both attributes were lacking last season under David Moyes, when the team slumped to a seventh-place finish in the Premier League, and in the first two games of this season under Van Gaal.
