Ángel di María said Manchester United were the “only club” for which he would have left Real Madrid as the 26-year-old completed a £59.7m British record transfer, signing a five-year contract worth around £200,000 a week.
With the Argentinian secured United will step up their attempt to sign a midfielder and, possibly, a defender in the closing days of the transfer window. Juventus’s Arturo Vidal, Milan’s Nigel de Jong and Ajax’s Daley Blind, who is also a left-sided defensive player, are potential targets.
United hope to confirm Di María’s work permit in time for Saturday’s match at Burnley. If granted – and that should be a formality with his status as an Argentina international – he should be selected for the match-day squad at Turf Moor and could make a full debut.
After completing a medical and the requisite paperwork on Tuesday to seal the deal, Di María 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 price for Di Maria makes him the world’s sixth most expensive player, behind Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo (£80m), Luis Suárez (£75m), Neymar (£71m), and James Rodríguez (£63m).
