British football’s most expensive player looks like lasting just 12 months in England as Paris deal nears completion
Angel di Maria has decided not to fly to San Jose to join up with the Manchester United squad in a bid to push through a £45million transfer to Paris Saint-Germain.
The Argentina winger was scheduled to link up with team-mates following last night’s preseason win over Barcelona in California, but the player has indicated his determination to leave Old Trafford and a deal with PSG, rumoured to be his first choice last summer when exiting Real Madrid.
Marcos Rojo also failed to make the plane due to issues with his passport, but boss Louis van Gaal insisted he did not know why Di Maria missed the flight, despite reports of ongoing negotiations with the French club.
PSG boss Laurent Blanc desperately wants to add the 27-year-old to his attack after FFP restrictions ruled out the signing last summer. He said: “There is a good possibility [he could sign] but there is nothing official. There is an anticipation he is going to come to the US but as to which jersey he is going to wear, we don’t know yet.
“If he does make a change hopefully it will be for Paris Saint-Germain. Right now we have to wait because there are two big clubs out there in discussion.”
United will be disappointed to lose Di Maria, particularly given the loss of roughly £15million on the record £59.7million fee they paid a year ago.
[h/t Telegraph]
