After failing to make an appearance in Real Madrid's 2-0 victory over Sevilla on Tuesday, speculation surrounding Angel Di Maria's departure from the Spanish capital continues to run rampant. Reports from the Daily Mail (via Goal Transfer Talk) suggesting Manchester United are set to launch an £80 million spending spree aren't helping, either.
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In addition to Di Maria, Daley Blind and Marcos Rojo are also said to be targeted by Louis van Gaal.
French outfit Paris Saint-Germain were long rumored to be the favorites to land the services of the Madrid star. During the unveiling of David Luiz, the £50-million center-back, club president Nasser Al-Khelaifi put an end to said speculation. According to Al-Khelaifi, Di Maria didn't fit the Ligue 1 champion's bottom line. "We spoke with Real Madrid about the possibility of signing Angel Di Maria," he said (via the Daily Mail). "But it was too expensive."
The last reported figure before negotiations fell through was in excess of £50 million. That alone would account for roughly 60 percent of Manchester United's summer budget.
For manager Louis van Gaal, however, even such a steep price tag would be beneficial for the club. "It is a strategy of Manchester United to do that, [to balance the squad]," the Dutchman said (via the Independent). "At this moment, we have five No. 9s and four No. 10s. We don't have wingers to give us attacking width."
Di Maria would do just that for a club desperate to return to relevance after last season's debacle.
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