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DI MARIA’S UTD SPELL SHOWS FOOTBALLERS ARE HUMAN TOO

DI MARIA’S UTD SPELL SHOWS FOOTBALLERS ARE HUMAN TOO

 

Just as the arrivals of Bastian Schweinsteiger and Memphis Depay have sparked much excitement around Manchester United this summer, there was widespread delight when Angel Di Maria completed his £59.7m switch to Old Trafford from Real Madrid 11 months ago. Following an excellent season and man-of-the-match performance in the Champions League final for Los Blancos, the capture of Di Maria was labelled as a masterstroke from manager Louis van Gaal and executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward; Madrid’s decision to sell, meanwhile, was widely deemed a grave mistake that was bound to come back and haunt them.

In theory, the move appeared to be exactly what United needed. With the possible exception of Robin van Persie in 2012, it had been many years since the 20-time league champions had brought in a world-class talent operating at the peak of his powers. Di Maria was just that, a marquee signing and statement of intent who would also bring a proven winning mentality to the club.

More importantly, Di Maria seemed to fill a void on the pitch. Under David Moyes, United were often guilty of being too one-paced, a lack of thrust, drive and dynamism noticeable as they slumped to a seventh-place finish. Deployed as either a winger or midfielder in a 4-3-3 configuration, the Argentina international proved at Madrid that he had the qualities that the Red Devils were lacking.

In spite of the initial optimism, things did not work out at United for Di Maria, who is now reportedly on the verge of a £45m transfer to Paris Saint-Germain. On paper, a record of 10 assists seems a reasonable return in what was the 27-year-old’s first campaign in a new league and country but, an excellent first few games aside, Di Maria rarely hit the levels he is capable of.

It is unclear why a man who has won nine senior trophies in his career to date frequently looked so out of sorts in a United shirt. Many have offered Van Gaal’s constant tinkering as a potential explanation: the Dutchman employed numerous systems and formations throughout the year, with Di Maria’s role continually changing. Indeed, according to WhoScored, his 33 appearances came in nine different positions on the pitch.

There is also a credible argument which states that there is no natural place in a Van Gaal team – which demands by definition control, discipline and the primacy of the collective – for Di Maria’s off-the-cuff creativity; it is notable, for example, that the 63-year-old does not have the greatest of track records when it comes to getting the best out of instinctive individualists from South America, even if the former Benfica man cannot really be accused of a lack of worth ethic.

More than anything, though, Di Maria’s disappointing and all-too-brief spell at United is illustrative of the fact that elite level footballers are human beings too. The Argentine never really settled in Manchester off the pitch, the different climate, culture and language all thought to have played a part in his subdued demeanour, all of which had an effect on his output on the field of play.

An attempted burglary on his Cheshire home did not help matters either, with wife Jorgelina insisting the Di Marias subsequently live in a hotel rather than risk returning to the house with their young daughter. Such considerations are often forgotten when it comes to discussing the displays of highly-paid, highly-talented footballers but, like those of us in more ordinary professions, they can have an indelible impact on performances at work.

A promising Copa America for Argentina suggested that the 2014-15 domestic campaign was a dip in form rather than anything more profound, and Di Maria will hope that a fresh start in Paris is enough to spark a rejuvenation. Things clearly did not go to plan at United, but Di Maria is simply too good a footballer not to bounce back.

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