Angel Di Maria | £59.7M fee agreed I Maybe tomorrow...or the day after...

[bosnian_red]

I also remember that debate in the Nani thread where I was taken the piss out of for suggesting Di Maria was better than Nani.

Don't think there was much between them at all back then, I would even put nani in 2010 and 2011 ahead of him as he was more consistent (yeah nani, consistent).

 

[Lennon7]

So...

DI MARIA
7​

Finally someone worthy of the shirt, it's been 5 years since we could say that.

​

Um... Michael Owen?

 

[2 man midfield]

If ever there was a signing to make someone go out and buy a Utd shirt..

 

[Raul Madrid]

I have never seen Balague that confident about a player. When you come out and become the number one source for a reputable organisation like SkySports, you do it with the right sources. If you get it wrong, your credibility as a sports journalist is questioned. He's Sky's number one Spanish football pundit. When it comes to all things Real Madrid or Barcelona, he's rarely wrong. No, I'm not talking about tweets or of the like, I'm talking about staking your reputation on the line. you don't do that unless you're 100% sure.

All the signs encourage this notion as well.

- Real Madrid need money to balance the books.
- Earlier this week, Ancelotti said that Di Maria had asked for a transfer.
- He was dropped from the line-up entirely for the Super Copa

This is happening. And just as Balague called it before anyone else for Herrera, he's done it again with Di Maria.

Balague gets a lot of undeserved stick. He is a good journalist who gets a lot of stuff right and he talks less shit than most journalists. His blogs and books are great reads too and he very clearly has great knowledge and passion for the game.

 

[GlastonSpur]

£60m eh? That'd take your net spend on additions to the title-winning squad to a cool £210m. Not far thereafter 'til you hit the quarter billion mark.

This has Mata Mark II written all over it: another attacking player who won't solve your CM or defensive problems - problems that should be taking priority over all else.

 

[penalty snot]

Good news is he won't want to leave to join his dream club Real Madrid in a few seasons...

 

[TheReligion]

£60m eh? That'd take your net spend on additions to the title-winning squad to a cool £210m. Not far thereafter 'til you hit the quarter billion mark.

This has Mata Mark II written all over it: another attacking player who won't solve your CM or defensive problems - problems that should be taking priority over all else.

Jealous much?

 

[Edgar Allan Pillow]

I think we are done playing 3-5-2. LvG should realise that it can be a goal to be working towards, but not just right now. We will see 4-1-3-2 and Di Maria would fit in perfectly in that.

 

[Red Phoenix Rising]

Some people will never be happy. Whether we play 3-5-2 or 4-3-3, he is typically going to be taking the place of one of the following: Fletcher, Cleverley or Young. From any of those three to Angel Di Maria, is the most ridiculously preposterous upgrade imaginable. He is as good as a CM as he is as a left winger. He has an UNBELIEVABLE work rate, and so much pace it hurts. He's such an exciting player. One worthy of that number 7 shirt. The fact he is versatile, is a huge plus. No other team in the Premier League wants to see us sign Di Maria. They'll flog us with the "he cost far too much" stick but that's only because they are scared. It doesn't effect us at all how much he cost. He's genuinely world class, and that's what we need. I am certain Woodward will leverage some additional sponsorships out of this, and we'll have some outgoings to help balance the books a little.

Given how insanely well the club is run from a financial perspective, if Woody and the Glazers are ok with us spending 50-60M on a single player, then why the feck would the fans give a shit? You people, always looking for a reason to complain.

In my lifetime we have made a handful of signings that have been truly exciting and made me dream. Veron, who I thought was going to help us dominate Europe for years and came for a massive fee (28.1M) at the time, Van Nistelrooy, who we tracked for seasons and waited to recover from injury and paid big money for (again at the time), Rooney, after his Euro 2004 exploits and just being the next big thing (paying nearly 30M for in 2004) and Ferdinand who we spunked nearly 30M on (for a defender!!!) and whom genuinely looked like the reincarnation of Beckenbaur.

Mata didn't quite get me in the same way (although I was pleased, very pleased) because we had such a helmet at the helm and I doubted he was what we needed to go to the next level.

All the other players we bought who turned out to be epic either came for little money and turned into world stars (Schmeichel, Irwin, Keane, Solksjaer etc) or were bought very yong and developed (Ronaldo being the obvious one). DI Maria is a world class player in his prime. He's just 26. We've bought very few of these types of players over the last 10-15 years.

People have also talked some smack about the fees we've paid for some of the other signings this summer. But I am not sure what people expect. No-one is caring that Madrid paid 27M for their reserve left back (Coentrao). Or 35M on Illaramendi or 36M on Isco. Neither of whom are playing regularly but both of whom are huge talents. Fact is prices are through the roof these days. We can still develop our own talent and take a punt on younger cheaper players, but if there is nothing coming through the academy that meets our needs, what are we supposed to do? Wilt and die as a competing force? Shaw is 19 and a huge talent. 26M ain't shit for him. Herrera is 24 and already looking like one of our better players. At 29M we have someone who is already excellent and has just the right attitude, work ethic and potential to improve considerably. Mata only just turned 26 and is an x-factor type player. Rojo is just 24 and Van Gaal has obviously done his homework on him. At "just" 16M, can't be nervous about this deal.

Not everything has to be absolutes. There is no one player out there who solves all our problems. Di Maria is just another piece of the puzzle. A very, very good piece of the puzzle. Signing him doesn't mean we can't sign other players, and paying a huge fee for him doesn't mean you'll go hungry tonight.

Sublime post. Give that man a like.

 

[penalty snot]

£60m eh? That'd take your net spend on additions to the title-winning squad to a cool £210m. Not far thereafter 'til you hit the quarter billion mark.

This has Mata Mark II written all over it: another attacking player who won't solve your CM or defensive problems - problems that should be taking priority over all else.

Think this will be addressed after. Di Maria is Ed Stud flexing his financial bicep.

 

[Man Utd Mrs]

£60m eh? That'd take your net spend on additions to the title-winning squad to a cool £210m. Not far thereafter 'til you hit the quarter billion mark.

This has Mata Mark II written all over it: another attacking player who won't solve your CM or defensive problems - problems that should be taking priority over all else.

So what ? It isn't our money.. I hope they spend more !!

 

[Shark]

£60m eh? That'd take your net spend on additions to the title-winning squad to a cool £210m. Not far thereafter 'til you hit the quarter billion mark.

This has Mata Mark II written all over it: another attacking player who won't solve your CM or defensive problems - problems that should be taking priority over all else.

Mata mark II? he's not even been here for a whole season yet.

Get out of here with your wumming. I'm surprised you're still even a member of this forum.

 

[Pexbo]

£60m eh? That'd take your net spend on additions to the title-winning squad to a cool £210m. Not far thereafter 'til you hit the quarter billion mark.

This has Mata Mark II written all over it: another attacking player who won't solve your CM or defensive problems - problems that should be taking priority over all else.

I disagree completely. Anyone with half an eye can see that we have struggled without someone who can carry the ball forward at pace and strike fear into opponents. The fact Januzaj has looked so bright and important says it all. He's 4 or 5 years off being a developed player but as he offers those attributes he's been so important for us.

Having Di Maria in will help us no end tactically in an attacking sense.

 

[REJE]

£60m eh? That'd take your net spend on additions to the title-winning squad to a cool £210m. Not far thereafter 'til you hit the quarter billion mark.

This has Mata Mark II written all over it: another attacking player who won't solve your CM or defensive problems - problems that should be taking priority over all else.

Another bitter guy who fails to use any logic whatsoever. Over the past few years we've lost as many players as we've bought due to old age/retirment, maybe if people compared net spend over the past 10 years things would be more accurate rather than convineantly choosing to compare years when we NEEDED to spend.

 

[Edgar Allan Pillow]

Agreed. Good post @simonhch

 

[langster]

Um... Michael Owen?

Agreed. No matter how unfortunate his time here was due to injury, he did reward us with that classic goal against City. And there is no doubting he was in the class of players worthy enough to wear the 7 shirt for United.

 

[The Red Thinker]

Balague gets a lot of undeserved stick. He is a good journalist who gets a lot of stuff right and he talks less shit than most journalists. His blogs and books are great reads too and he very clearly has great knowledge and passion for the game.

That's it right there. I know he got it wrong with Thiago, but it's been established to some degree that we pulled the plug on Thiago despite there having been agreements. Of course, Thiago's claim that we didn't have a deal is nonsense. What else is he going to say when you're signing for Bayern and that too Pep Guardiola.

 

[Joga Bonito]

£60m eh? That'd take your net spend on additions to the title-winning squad to a cool £210m. Not far thereafter 'til you hit the quarter billion mark.

This has Mata Mark II written all over it: another attacking player who won't solve your CM or defensive problems - problems that should be taking priority over all else.

Ah, finally an opposition fan arises. Wonder where the scousers are right now.

@BarneyLFC @PickledRed What do you guys think about this potential signing?

 

[Melvyn]

Glaston returns to the Caf after being MIA the entire past season. Wonder why?

 

[JohnDoe]

Another bitter guy who fails to use any logic whatsoever. Over the past few years we've lost as many players as we've bought due to old age/retirment, maybe if people compared net spend over the past 10 years things would be more accurate rather than convineantly choosing to compare years when we NEEDED to spend.

Our net spend since 2002 is around £330m (including di Maria).

By comparison, Real Madrid's is a whopping ~£670m, Chelsea ~£580m, City ~£550m, and Barca's, with their incredible academy, is around £250m.

 

[justboy68]

£60m eh? That'd take your net spend on additions to the title-winning squad to a cool £210m. Not far thereafter 'til you hit the quarter billion mark.

This has Mata Mark II written all over it: another attacking player who won't solve your CM or defensive problems - problems that should be taking priority over all else.

An attacking player who can run with the ball at pace and force the issue is something we've been missing. The problem we've had is quality attacking players like Mata, Rooney and RVP with no impetus or momentum to work with, so the play ends up static and there isn't much they can do. Di Maria is the kind of player who will get on the ball and make things happen, beat his marker and disrupt the organisation of opponents, sparking some opportunities.

Unless by Mata mark II you meant the type of signing Spurs could only dream of? In which case I agree completely.

 

[Sally Cinnamon]

Agreed. No matter how unfortunate his time here was due to injury, he did reward us with that classic goal against City. And there is no doubting he was in the class of players worthy enough to wear the 7 shirt for United.

Yes...let's give the number 7 to this over-the-hill, injury ravaged shitbird who has scored over 150 goals for Liverpool.

State of him.

 

[acnumber9]

£60m eh? That'd take your net spend on additions to the title-winning squad to a cool £210m. Not far thereafter 'til you hit the quarter billion mark.

This has Mata Mark II written all over it: another attacking player who won't solve your CM or defensive problems - problems that should be taking priority over all else.

Share your stories with somebody who cares.

 

[Ubik]

In fairness, £210m is one hell of a lot of money and with that kind of spend we should be challenging for titles, no question about it. If there are another couple of signings in addition to di Maria (if we do manage to pull it off) coming later this week as mooted, we've no excuse not to put in a proper title challenge.

 

[In Rainbows]

Don't think there was much between them at all back then, I would even put nani in 2010 and 2011 ahead of him as he was more consistent (yeah nani, consistent).

Yep. Nani was great from 2010-2012. I can't believe Bale won player of the year over him in 2011.

 

[DeMono]

I won't be surprised if Man utd put 'Angel Di Maria', I mean they put 'Ander Herrera' and 'Marcos Rojo' which creates a semi circle on the back of the shirt.

 

[JohnDoe]

In fairness, £210m is one hell of a lot of money and with that kind of spend we should be challenging for titles, no question about it. If there are another couple of signings in addition to di Maria (if we do manage to pull it off) coming later this week as mooted, we've no excuse not to put in a proper title challenge.

Well yeah but you can't really count Fellaini though, since he's crap.

 

[golazo]

Ah, finally an opposition fan arises. Wonder where the scousers are right now.

@BarneyLFC @PickledRed What do you guys think about this potential signing?

All the LFC fans on my Facebook are so deluded that they think Balotelli is all they need to win the title. They've forgotten everything he did at City

So I'm guessing Di Maria to them is a poor man's Sterling

 

[RDCR07]

£60m eh? That'd take your net spend on additions to the title-winning squad to a cool £210m. Not far thereafter 'til you hit the quarter billion mark.

This has Mata Mark II written all over it: another attacking player who won't solve your CM or defensive problems - problems that should be taking priority over all else.

Firstly its not £210m. After Fergie left we have signed:
Fellaini - £27m
Mata - £37m
Herrera - £29m
Shaw - £27m
Rojo - £16m

Thats £136m Even if we spend £60m on Di Maria that takes up to £196m. Also add in a few million quid we made from players leaving.

Im surprised you haven't said Lamela is going to be better than Di Maria this season. Why don't you worry about your own team?

 

[surf]

£60m eh? That'd take your net spend on additions to the title-winning squad to a cool £210m. Not far thereafter 'til you hit the quarter billion mark.

This has Mata Mark II written all over it: another attacking player who won't solve your CM or defensive problems - problems that should be taking priority over all else.

Get thee to a wummery.

 

[SirAF]

£60m eh? That'd take your net spend on additions to the title-winning squad to a cool £210m. Not far thereafter 'til you hit the quarter billion mark.

This has Mata Mark II written all over it: another attacking player who won't solve your CM or defensive problems - problems that should be taking priority over all else.

lol

 

[Joga Bonito]

All the LFC fans on my Facebook are so deluded that they think Balotelli is all they need to win the title. They've forgotten everything he did at City

So I'm guessing Di Maria to them is a poor man's Sterling

Nah they won't be comparing Di Maria to Sterling, he is more on the level of Lallana la.

 

[The Red Thinker]

Didn't say it was certain, said it moreless was i.e a reliable Spanish source was reporting it.

It clearly wasn't the usual twitter babble, because I'm not referring to anything to do with twitter. And it clearly wasn't babble, because, well, it's proved to be true.

I think you're referring to Cadena Ser. Indeed they reported that Di Maria was leaving and that the likely destination is United. How many times in the past have we read "likely destination" and seen that player end up somewhere else?


Here he is openly saying that it is "certain" (hey hey!) to happen. He even goes on to articulate why this transfer is happening. It's a lot different from speculation and punts. This is factual reporting. That's why I say, he 'broke' the story.

 

[GlastonSpur]

I disagree completely. Anyone with half an eye can see that we have struggled without someone who can carry the ball forward at pace and strike fear into opponents. The fact Januzaj has looked so bright and important says it all. He's 4 or 5 years off being a developed player but as he offers those attributes he's been so important for us.

Having Di Maria in will help us no end tactically in an attacking sense.

I'm sure he will help you in attacking sense, but that's really got nothing to do with what I posted ... which concerned the lack of focus on your CM and defensive problems. Mata + Di Maria (if it's £60m) = close to £100m on attacking players in the last 8 months, money that could have (and should have) got you pretty much any CB and CM that you wanted.

 

[FromTheBench]

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[Ubik]

Well yeah but you can't really count Fellaini though, since he's crap.

Real Madrid would no doubt say they made half the transfer fee back in wigs alone had they signed him.

Firstly its not £210m. After Fergie left we have signed:
Fellaini - £27m
Mata - £37m
Herrera - £29m
Shaw - £27m
Rojo - £16m

Thats £136m Even if we spend £60m on Di Maria that takes up to £196m. Also add in a few million quid we made from players leaving.

Im surprised you haven't said Lamela is going to be better than Di Maria this season. Why don't you worry about your own team?

You can add Zaha to it for £12m odd too, though we did get a surprising amount for the Buttman. Either way, we've spent quite a large amount all things considered. Winning in europe again should be the end goal.

 

[Mister Ed]

£60m eh? That'd take your net spend on additions to the title-winning squad to a cool £210m. Not far thereafter 'til you hit the quarter billion mark.

This has Mata Mark II written all over it: another attacking player who won't solve your CM or defensive problems - problems that should be taking priority over all else.

He won't solve any defensive problems that is for sure, but if used correctly he can and will solve an important part of our midfield problem and he'll provide us with a massive quality injection attacking wise and in fact I think he'll make Mata a more effective player for us aswell.

I don't think that spending is outrageous seeing as you take it back to atleast 3 transfer windows ago and we have been in need of decent investment for years, obviously there is catching up to do and Di Maria will be a very important piece of the puzzle but not the only one. With another Defensive mid like De Jong or Blind and some players like Anderson out and we did an adequate job this summer. The defense still needs work and our midfield might still need a player like Strootman to replace Carrick but those are things we can look at in the winter or next summer. We can't do everything in one window as the work we had on our plate was massive, the team SAF left behind was just unbalanced and lacked quality in all areas and was full of old players that were passed it and on the verge of retiring. If we can get Di Maria and a defensive mid this summer and LVG can keep on building to this squad we'll certainly be up there for 4th spot and might not be to far off from competing for the title if everything goes well. If we can than bring in somebody like Strootman to replace Carrick in one of the coming windows and maybay add a top central defender like Hummels or Benatia or some top talent like Stones and we'll be back on top of the league again before you know it. Di Maria will be the transfer to put it all into motion for us !

 

[GlastonSpur]

Another bitter guy who fails to use any logic whatsoever. Over the past few years we've lost as many players as we've bought due to old age/retirment, maybe if people compared net spend over the past 10 years things would be more accurate rather than convineantly choosing to compare years when we NEEDED to spend.

The logic is clear: your CM and defensive problems should be - but aren't - taking priority over all else.

 

[Sammyjunn]

£60m eh? That'd take your net spend on additions to the title-winning squad to a cool £210m. Not far thereafter 'til you hit the quarter billion mark.

This has Mata Mark II written all over it: another attacking player who won't solve your CM or defensive problems - problems that should be taking priority over all else.

Please shut up. Havent we buyed Herrera, Shaw, Rojo? Our defensive conceded almost the same amount of goals as the famous Arsenal defence last season, while ours was injured a lot, and couldnt get a good run of playing together.

 

[RDCR07]

Real Madrid would no doubt say they made half the transfer back in wigs alone had they signed him.

You can add Zaha to it for £12m odd too, though we did get a surprising amount for the Buttman. Either way, we've spent quite a large amount all things considered. Winning in europe again should be the end goal.

Zaha was Fergie's signing. I thought we were talking about the signings we ve made since he left.