Manchester United set To complete Di Maria deal

Sunday, 24 August 2014

Manchester United set To complete Di Maria deal

Manchester United look increasingly likely to break their transfer record by acquiring the Argentinian from Real Madrid.

With reports late on Saturday night emerging that a Manchester United deal for 26-year-old Real Madrid star Angel Di Maria is moving ever closer, the club themselves demonstrated a telling change of stance on the prospect of signing the player.

Denying any interest in Di Maria earlier in the summer, United responded to enquires by BBC Sport about a renewed move for the Champions League winner by declining to comment.

It follows Di Maria notifying Real Madrid of a wish to leave the Bernabeu last week, and could mean he becomes the second World Cup finalist to sign for the Old Trafford club after compatriot Macros Rojo arrived from Sporting Lisbon.

Sky Sports expert Guillem Balague had stated that a move was so close to completion that Di Maria’s shirt number has already been decided, with the 26-year-old set to take the number seven shirt that has been worn by so many United legends over the years, including his current teammate and reigning Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo.

Indeed, apparently Ronaldo himself has encouraged the former Benfica man to make the move, with there being “no chance” of him staying in Madrid.

Meetings will take place at the beginning of week in order to thrash out a deal, with a figure of £48-55 million mentioned by Balague.

If Di Maria arrives for over £50 million, he will the record purchase by an English club, eclipsing the figure Chelsea paid Liverpool for Fernando Torres in 2011.