Angel Di Maria has completed a £59.7m British record transfer to Manchester United from Real Madrid.
The Argentina international had his medical at Manchester’s Aon facility on Tuesday morning and signed a five-year deal with the club thereafter.
He is in contention for a debut appearance at Turf Moor on Saturday against promoted Burnley.
Di Maria becomes Man United’s Fourth Major Acquisition this Summer.
The fee beats the previous record of £50m paid Liverpool by Chelsea for striker Fernando Torres in 2011. It also exceeds the £37.1m sum United paid for Juan Mata in January.
The Old Trafford outfit have struggled to fill the vacuum in its depleted midfield for the past one year, coupled with numerous injury concerns in that role early into the new season; Di Maria is a statement signing for coach Louis van Gaal.
Van Gaal said: “Angel is a world-class midfielder but most importantly he is a team player. There is no doubting his immense natural talent.
“He is a tremendously fast and incisive left-footed player who puts fear into the most accomplished defence. His dribbling skills and his ability to take on and beat opponents are a joy to watch. He is an excellent addition to the team.”
The 26-year-old joined Real from Portuguese giants Benfica in 2010 for a fee believed to be in the region of £28m.
He notched the highest assists tally (17) in the Spanish La Liga last season, and then put up an MVP performance as the ‘Los Blancos’ achieve a 12-year-long dream for ‘La Decima’ in the Lisbon final of the Uefa Champions League.
Di Maria said: “I am absolutely delighted to be joining Manchester United. 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.
“Louis van Gaal is a fantastic coach with a proven track record of success and I am impressed by the vision and determination everyone has to get this club back to the top – where it belongs. I now just cannot wait to get started.”
The midfielder becomes the club’s fourth major signing this summer, following Luke Shaw, Ander Herrera and Marcos Rojo’s arrivals.
by Greenstarnetwork admin..
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