Manchester United confirm Ángel Di María PSG switch

Argentinian joins Ligue 1 side for €63 million after frustrating season at Old Trafford

Manchester United have confirmed Ángel Di María’s switch to PSG. Photograph: Afp
Manchester United have confirmed Ángel Di María’s switch to PSG. Photograph: Afp

Angel di Maria has completed his move from Manchester United to Paris St Germain.

PSG and United agreed a €63 millionfee for the midfielder on Sunday and earlier this week he passed a medical in Qatar.

On Thursday afternoon, United announced Di Maria had completed his move to the French champions.

United tweeted: "#mufc can confirm the sale of Angel Di Maria to Paris Saint-Germain is complete. We wish him well for the future."

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United signed Di Maria from Real Madrid for a British record €85m last summer, but after an impressive start, his form dipped and he only started one of the final 10 games of last season.

Di Maria is said to have become unsettled by an attempted burglary on his Cheshire home in February.

The Argentinian has signed a four-year contract with the big-spending French club, who beat Chelsea to reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League last season.

Speaking just over three hours before his unveiling at a five-star hotel in the centre of Paris, the French club also announced the signing of the winger on their website.

In his first interview as a PSG player, Di Maria told the club’s website: “I am very proud, and can’t wait, to wear the colours of Paris St Germain.

“I want to win every competition we enter, both in France and Europe. ”I want to win the Champions League, which is a dream for all footballers, for a second time.

“We will do everything we can to bring Europe’s biggest trophy to France and the fans of Paris St Germain.”

Di Maria is the latest in a long line of South American signings made by PSG since their takeover by a group of wealthy Qataris four years ago.

The five-time French champions have signed David Luiz, Lucas Moura, Javier Pastore, Edinson Cavani and Thiago Silva as they look to make PSG genuine contenders for the Champions League.

“We are very proud that Angel Di Maria has chosen Paris Saint-Germain,” PSG president Nasser Al Khelaifi said,

“He is an incredibly talented player, with a frightening speed and ability to beat opposition players.

“He adds his name to the club’s strong South American community and, above all, the big Paris Saint-Germain family.

“By signing Angel Di Maria, Paris Saint-Germain is once again showing the club’s constant ambition to reach the summits of the European game.”

The sale of Di Maria means United’s famous number seven shirt becomes available for the new season.

Summer signing Memphis Depay is favourite to take the shirt given that he wore it during his time at PSV Eindhoven.

United manager Louis van Gaal, meanwhile, will now look to bolster his squad by signing Barcelona forward Pedro.

Pedro has enjoyed 11 successful years at Barca, but has become frustrated at a lack of playing time at the Nou Camp recently following the signing of Neymar and Luis Suarez, who have formed a deadly three-pronged attack alongside Lionel Messi.

If Barca president Josep Bartomeu gets his way, Pedro will not be leaving the club, however.

”There is nothing on Pedro, there isn’t any official offer (on the table),” Bartomeu was quoted as saying in Marca.

”He is a Barca player and we want him to continue at Barca. To win the six competitions (we are in), we need the best players and Pedro is one of them.”

Pedro came off the bench to play the final 29 minutes of Barcelona’s 3-0 friendly win over Roma at the Nou Camp on Wednesday night.