Former Manchester United midfielder Owen Hargreaves has expressed his disappointment at Angel di Maria’s failed spell in the Premier League as the Argentine proves that his class his permanent in Benfica colours.
It’s telling, really, that Angel di Maria’s most memorable moment on the Old Trafford pitch arguably came while wearing the blue and white of Paris Saint-Germain, the winger mockingly drinking from an empty bottle chucked in his direction from the stands.
Di Maria’s every touch was greeted by a chorus of jeers and boos during that Champions League meeting early on in the Ole Gunnar Solskjaer era. Whether he deserved such a reaction is up for debate, of course, but what cannot be denied is that the £60 million signing from Real Madrid was one hell of a disappointment in England.
So much so that, if you were to draw up a list of Man United’s most underwhelming post-Sir Alex Ferguson signings, the 2022 World Cup winner would be competing for a place on the podium alongside the likes of Alexis Sanchez.
Angel di Maria was a £60m Manhcester United flop
“He’s an amazing player and he’s had such an amazing career. It’s a shame it didn’t work out for him at Man United,” Hargreaves sighs, speaking to TNT Sport after watching Di Maria convert not one but too nerveless spot-kicks during Benfica’s Europa League victory over Toulouse on Thursday, one a 95th minute decider.
“How calm is that (second) penalty? I don’t know how those guys do that. Confidence, composure…”
Still going strong at 36
Those, however, are maybe not the attributes many Man United fans would choose if asked to describe Di Maria’s one and only season in the North West back in 2014/15.
While he had his moments – that glorious Leicester City chip and the assist for Juan Mata’s iconic acrobatic effort at Anfield – there were few mourners lining the streets when it emerged that Man United were cutting their losses and accepting a £44 million bid from Paris Saint-Germain.
Now 36, Di Maria is back in Portugal for a second spell at Benfica. One of the most trophy-laden players of the modern era is keeping up his record of shining everywhere but Man United too, scoring 13 goals and providing a further eight assists since returning to Lisbon.
from United In Focus https://ift.tt/Z2jisln