Paris Saint-Germain defender David Luiz has welcomed the imminent signing of Manchester United’s Angel Di Maria to the Parc des Princes, with a reported A?46.5 million agreement in place.
Di Maria failed to join up with his current Red Devils squad in the United States, with reports suggesting that the 27-year-old is nearing on a move to the French champions, with an announcement expected as soon as tonight. The Argentine winger had a torrid first season at Old Trafford, struggling with form and injuries, which saw him being benched by manager Louis Van Gaal towards the end of last season.
I love him, he is my friend – David Luiz on Angel Di Maria
Louis Van Gaal had yesterday suggested that Di Maria was due to arrive on a flight with Marcos Rojo and Javier Hernandez, but only Hernandez made it to the United States, with Rojo having some passport issues, he failed to provide an explanation as to why the former Real Madrid winger was absent. Van Gaal in another interview, suggested, that Di Maria is the kind of superstar that Manchester United need, if they are to win the Champions League.
However, Di Maria’s former team-mate at Benfica, David Luiz feels, that the imminent arrival of the 27-year-old would help the big-spending club realize their ultimate aim, in winning the UEFA Champions League. Speaking to Sky Sports, the World’s costliest defender, said:
“For us it is always very good if we can sign a fantastic player like Di Maria.
“I love him, he is my friend. I played with him at Benfica, when we were young. .
“He is fantastic and will be fantastic for the team. He also knows how to play on the defensive side, he is an amazing player.
“Am I surprised it didn’t work out for him in England? No, it’s not about this. Sometimes you can not have luck in one place, but he is still a fantastic player.
“We want to win the Champions League. If it was up to me, I’d like to sign many, many players.
“Of course he is a player that can help us go up another step. It’s about details in the Champions League.
“When we played Barcelona last season we arrived in our bad moment and they were at their best level of the season. It can be like that. You need luck sometimes and have all the players available to play.”
An Angel never suited for the Red Devils?
Earlier Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the talismanic PSG striker had welcomed Di Maria to the club, with reports suggesting that the 27-year-old will undergo a medical in New York today, before joining up with his new team-mates in New Jersey tomorrow. PSG play Olympique Lyon in the French Super Cup on the 1st of August, however, the former Benfica winger is unlikely to play a part in the game, due to his extended holidays for playing with Argentina in the Copa America.
Di Maria signed for the Old Trafford out-fit only last season, for a British record fee of A?59.7 million, but never got into his stride, as he struggled with the physicality of the Premier League, which is not suited for his style of play, or for his fragile body. A move to PSG, who were also front-runners for his signature last year, but couldn’t complete the deal due to the Financial Fair Play regulations, looks like in the best interest of the flamboyant winger, in a bid to revive his club career, which hit a new low last season.