Paris Saint-Germain snagged their fourth Ligue 1 title in as many years with relative ease this season, winning the competition with eight games left to go. One player who has been pivotal to their success, though, is former Real Madrid and Manchester United winger Angel Di Maria.
The winger joined PSG last summer from United for a fee of £44 milion, after a torrid spell under Louis van Gaal at Old Trafford. Having made the switch from Madrid the previous summer in a £60 million transfer, Di Maria got off to a bright start. However, his performances withered as the season went on, and he would eventually lose his starting position.
The Argentinean was supposed to be the player who changed the club’s fortunes in the post-Ferguson era, as there was no bringing back Cristiano Ronaldo, or getting Gareth Bale. And from the onset, he seemed poised to do just that, scoring three times and assisting three goals in his first five games.
Things don’t work out too well in England
However, he would go off the boil and wouldn’t score again until the turn of the year, finding the back of the net against Yeovil Town in a 2-1 FA Cup victory in January 2015.
He also missed a number of matches, the result of being injured (pelvic problem), in addition to receiving a suspension. This would impact his season as well.
The most glaring factor, though, was Van Gaal’s restrictive style. The Dutchman seemingly bridled his attacking players with a conservative, rigid system, and Di Maria could find no place of rest in the team, as he was moved from position to position.
In his first 16 games at United, the winger would play in six different positions, including central midfielder and striker.
The South American would prove to be largely unproductive that season, so when PSG came knocking, both Di Maria and the Old Trafford side jumped at the opportunity to sever ties. He signed for Laurent Blanc’s French champions, leaving them £44 million lighter and becoming their most expensive summer buy - just one year after United made him their most expensive signing.
"Manchester was a sad experience. Things did not go the way I expected,” he would say to French publication L’equipe after leaving for Paris. “I was disappointed and I could not surface.
"Honestly, I don't remember what happened and I don't want to remember."
The transfer must have being worrying for PSG supporters, after having watched him flop so epically in England, scoring just four goals in 24 appearances. But their doubt was certainly short lived.
A new start in France
The Argentinian hit the ground running, and under Blanc’s free-flowing system, he looked happy with the ball at his feet again. He was allowed to play in his natural position, but had the freedom to roam as he pleased.
Di Maria had his manager’s trust, something he never had back at United, and my, did he thrive on it. He also benefitted from being surrounded by markedly better attackers in Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Edinson Cavani and Lucas Moura.
Things were certainly easier, his influence grew with every passing game. And speaking of passing game; that too, was very much on point. Di Maria has dished out 13 assists this season, along with 13 goals of his own.
He helped his team win yet another French title; this time, with a 25 point gap over second-placed Monaco, and a goal difference of 62.
Meanwhile, Manchester United continue to struggle under Van Gaal and are in danger of missing out on the top four this season. They are sixth on the Premier League table, trailing leaders Leicester City by 16 points.
The Red Devils are also out of Europe, having been knocked out of the UEFA Europa League by Liverpool with a 3-1 aggregate scoreline on Thursday night.
Di Maria and his side, though, are alive and well in the UEFA Champions League after getting past Chelsea last week. The Argentinean had a huge impact on the tie, serving up a superb assist for Cavani, to win the first leg at the Parc des Princes with a 2-1 result.
United fans were less than pleased with the club for letting the winger star for another club, and they had every right to. They had one of the best players in the world at their disposal and lost him because of a manager’s unwillingness to bend.
They are now forced to admire from a distance as Di Maria continues to shine for the French outfit, playing the game his way, without fear or restrictions.
The season may be over in one respect, but there’s still much to challenge for in cup competitions. It could turn out to be an even better campaign for Angel Di Maria at Paris Saint-Germain. There’s no telling how much he could achieve at this club.
