Manchester United has smashed the British transfer record to sign Argentina and Real Madrid star Angel Di Maria for £59.7million.
Typically when a transfer is made, clubs are reluctant to confirm the price they paid to sign a footballer. But in this case, in an act of bravado and to prove that the club is investing in the future, Manchester United publicly announced the £59.7million fee ($94.5 million).
Read: Gary Neville’s analysis on where Di Maria will play on the United team.
Di Maria has been signed on a five-year contract. The midfielder, 26, began his career at one of the most prolific youth academies in Argentinian football, Rosario Central. In 2007, he moved to Europe to play for Portuguese club Benfica, before signing for Real Madrid in 2010. The Argentina international has 52 caps for his national team, scoring 10 goals.
Angel 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.”
Louis 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.”
