Manchester Utd confirm British record Di Maria deal

ALL content used in this not-for-profit blog remain the property of their respective owners.
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/sport/football-manchester-utd/1331720.html

Manchester United have signed Argentina midfielder Angel di Maria from Real Madrid for a British record transfer fee of £59.7 million (S$122 million, US$98 million), the English Premier League club announced on Tuesday (Aug 26).

The 26-year-old's move, on a five-year contract, shatters the previous British record fee of £50m (S$103 million) paid by Chelsea to sign Spain striker Fernando Torres from Liverpool in 2011.

Meanwhile di Maria said it was van Gaal's "vision" for the English giants that had persuaded him to move to Old Trafford, even though United, are not in this season's Champions League following their unexpectedly lowly seventh place in last term's Premier League.

"I am absolutely delighted to be joining Manchester United... it is the only club that I would have left Real Madrid for. I now just cannot wait to get started."

His arrival in Manchester is the headline deal of United's overhaul under new manager van Gaal, who had already spent a combined £72 million (S$149 million) on England left-back Luke Shaw, Spanish midfielder Ander Herrera and Di Maria's Argentina team-mate Marcos Rojo, who is also left-footed like him.

Di Maria could make his debut at Burnley on Saturday as van Gaal looks to revitalise a United team still without a win after the first two games of the new Premier League campaign.

Di Maria has an impressive pedigree after winning the Champions League with Real last season and the Spanish title in 2012. The Argentina international has scored 10 goals in 52 appearances for his country.