Di Maria Convinced By Blanc

Angel di Maria says a phone call from Paris Saint-Germain manager Laurent Blanc convinced him to leave Manchester United in the summer.

The Argentina international spent just one season in the Premier League following his £59.7m move from Real Madrid to Old Trafford in 2014 before departing for the Ligue 1 champions.

Di Maria started well but his time in Manchester quickly turned sour as he was left on the bench several times by manager Louis van Gaal and suffered a break-in at his home.

And Di Maria said he was convinced to leave United for PSG in a £44.3m deal last summer when the former France international made a personal call to him.

"The first time we spoke, it was before I signed for PSG. This made me very happy," he told BeIN sports.

"It happened the same way when [Jose] Mourinho made me come to Real Madrid. They called me before and I spoke with them. Blanc called me when he was in the United States and I was still on holiday.

"He said he was very happy to recruit me, that he had wanted me for several seasons. Obviously, this gave me an added incentive to sign for PSG."

Di Maria has scored seven times this season as PSG have opened up a 17 point lead in Ligue 1, also making seven assists.

Credit: Skysports.com