Di Maria Bids Farewell To Real

Angel Di Maria has already bid goodbye to his Real Madrid teammates ahead of his expected transfer to Manchester United, Carlo Ancelotti has revealed.

The Argentina international is expected to hold talks with United next week over a transfer that is thought to be worth a British record £56m.

Ancelotti confirmed the winger had come to the club’s training base to bid farewell to his teammates and the club’s staff before he heads to Manchester to complete the move next week.

"Di Maria has not trained with us today (Sunday) and he came in to say goodbye to the players and people at the club," Ancelotti told a news conference in Madrid.

"We are thankful for what he has done at this club. There is nothing official yet but it is being sorted out.”

Despite winning man of the match in Real’s Champions league final triumph over city rivals Atletico last season, Di Maria was deemed expendable by club president Florentino Perez following the arrival of World Cup top-scorer James Rodriguez from Monaco.

That put Di Maria’s place in the Ancelotti’s starting 11 in jeopardy and when contract talks between the player and club stalled, with Di Maria feeling club officials were failing to recognise his value and contributions to the team, the decision was made to sell.

The Real Madrid manager maintains the decision to leave was made by the player and hinted the Spanish giants will be looking for a replacement before the window closes.

"The decision is his and the club has done what it could to keep him here but he thought differently and so good luck to him,” Ancelotti said.

“I am very happy with the work that he has done for Madrid but we have the chance to replace him well.”

Credit: skysports.com