United clinch record di Maria deal
- adamhigginsuk
- Aug 26, 2014
- 2 min read
A chief creator: Only Lionel Messi and Mesut Ozil have more league assists in the top five European divisions since August 2010 than di Maria (Picture by FTBPro.com)
MANCHESTER United have completed the signing of midfielder Angel di Maria from Real Madrid for a British transfer record of £59.7 million.
The Argentina international has signed a five-year deal with the Old Trafford club, worth £200,000 per week, after successfully completing a medical on Tuesday.
Di Maria, who is United’s fourth major summer signing, is expected to make his debut in Saturday’s Premier League match at Burnley.
"I am absolutely delighted to be joining Manchester United," di Maria, 26, told the club’s official website.
"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."
United boss Louis van Gaal added: "Angel is a world-class midfielder but most importantly he is a team player. There is no doubting his immense natural talent."
Di Maria began his career at the Rosario Central youth academy in his native Argentina before moving to Benfica in 2007.
He spent three years in Portugal before joining Real Madrid, where he often played second fiddle to the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo but was man of the match in their Champions League final win over city rivals Atletico Madrid last season.
Di Maria, who has 10 goals in 52 caps for his country, was part of the Argentina side that finished runners-up to Germany at the World Cup in Brazil although his tournament was cut short by injury in their quarter-final win over Belgium.
United have already purchased his national team-mate Marcos Rojo from Sporting Lisbon, left-back Luke Shaw from Southampton and Athletic Bilbao midfielder Ander Herrera for a combined total of £72 million.
The fee to bring Di Maria to Manchester surpasses the £50 million spent by Chelsea on striker Fernando Torres from Liverpool in the 2011 January transfer window.
Last updated: 26 August 2014 23:55pm
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