Of PSG’s most important players
He was almost the perfect Mourinho player. There was first of all the fact he was a talented attacker versatile enough to play in many positions, and industrious enough to “run all day”. There was then the fact he was one of the increasingly rare players at Madrid almost completely subservient to the Mourinho regime.
But then Florentino Perez wanted something flashy and new. So did United.
Unluckily for Di Maria, he really didn’t want to go to Old Trafford, but there were literally no other options. He had no choice, and never settled.
That might have been something that could have been worked out, had it not been for the bigger problem. Van Gaal.
Di Maria, according to many, “hated” the Dutch coach. It was here that the player’s versatility and talent almost worked against him, too, and another peak — albeit a brief one — just led to another low. Di Maria scored that sublime chip against Leicester City, but the haphazard 5-3 defeat United suffered made Van Gaal realise the team were far too open. The shackles came on, and Di Maria was shunted all over the pitch.
PSG made their move. They found a player at a low ebb, but one immediately happier.
Di Maria is just a player whose personality has become a real plus for his club. He never complains, and is a guiding presence for young players. The word is he “brings a different profile” to PSG and energy.
In other words, everything missing from his time at United.
An Old Trafford outcast has become one of PSG’s most important players.
It has made quite the difference, but what will really tell is whether Di Maria now proves the difference in this tie.