Manchester United have agreed a British record transfer fee of STG59.7 million ($A109 million) to sign Argentina midfielder Angel Di Maria from Real Madrid according to British media reports on Monday.
Several media outlets, including the BBC, reported that United have finally sealed a deal for Di Maria after several days of negotiations with the Spanish club.
The 26-year-old was said to have been seen arriving at United’s training ground on Monday evening as he prepares to put pen to paper on a reported five-year contract worth an estimated STG200,000 ($A365,000) a week.
Di Maria’s move to Old Trafford is expected to be completed on Tuesday and will shatter the previous British record fee of STG50 million ($A91 million) paid by Chelsea to sign Spain striker Fernando Torres from Liverpool in 2011.
United last broke the British transfer record when they paid Leeds 29.1 million for Rio Ferdinand in 2002 and the deal will also eclipse the club record 37.1 million they splashed out to sign Juan Mata from Chelsea in January.
Real manager Carlo Ancelotti revealed over the weekend that Di Maria had said goodbye to his teammates and he was absent from the Madrid squad as they beat Cordoba on Monday.
His arrival in Manchester would be the headline deal of United’s overhaul under new manager Louis van Gaal, who has already spent a combined STG72 million ($A131 million) on England left-back Luke Shaw, Spanish midfielder Ander Herrera and Di Maria’s Argentina teammate Marcos Rojo.
Assuming the transfer is finalised on schedule, Di Maria, capped 52 times, could make his debut at Burnley on Saturday as van Gaal looks to revitalise a United team still without a win after the first two games of the new Premier League campaign.
Former Benfica star Di Maria has an impressive pedigree after winning the Champions League with Real last season and the Spanish title in 2012.
He was also named on FIFA’s 10-man shortlist for the best player at the recent World Cup where Argentina reached the final, although he was unable to play in that game or the semi-final because of an injury he suffered in the quarter-final win over Belgium.
Arnold Krewanty
Guest
I don't watch it. Perfectly happy with the way the A-League is progressing.
Bondy
Guest
Arnold Dont watch it then and stop whinging ...
Bondy
Guest
What also should be noted is Di Maria does not really tackle something you must do at United thats what they pride themselves on and he doesn't really track back either...
magila cutty
Guest
Despite DiMarias stature in the game at £100m plus near windows end it smacks a little of desperation.
Jayden
Guest
The part that made Atleticos defence work, is that they were traditional CBs. Good old Fashioned solid players, if the team had.consistrd of ball players ala David Luiz it would have failed massively. In terms of Defence, the Atletico CBs are arguably some of the best in modern football.
Punter
Guest
He was playing for the team that won the champions league & went very close in the La liga, with Ronaldo injured, he as Steve mentioned was the star player that actually won them the Champions League & yet he is deemed surplus & may struggle to start in some teams shows what I mean about being underrated.
Albo
Guest
Haven't seen the game from last night, but going by what I have seen of ManU in every match this past year or so, De Gea would be the first one I'd show the door ! Obviously with another 4 past him last night, he is not improving one bit and is part of the dismal defensive structure at play at ManU currently. He still refuses to come of his line , making the 6 yard line a juicy target for every team they play & creating issues for an already overly nervous defensive squad ! The team is too top heavy with over rated attacking midfielders and they should have spent their money on a couple of proven central defenders to control the ever opening back doors to De Gea !
Steve
Guest
Agree. Although the point is there are actually other players going for even more or similarly high amounts without the pedigree, performances, potential trophies, etc. of Di Maria. It's all relative in the end.
Steve
Guest
j binnie. I displayed the team I would play (I'm coming at this as not a Man U fan btw), and De Gea is the only name on it. Of course i took the liberty of adding Blind to the lineup. But yes, I don't see room for Evans, Wellbeck, Hernandez, Kagawa or Januzaj as starters. Hernandez and Januzaj are good options off the bench. Kagawa has been disappointing since his transfer. Wellbeck is another good option off the bench, but shouldn't be starting for a club with high ambitions.
AZ_RBB
Guest
Or the enormity of the fact that a player of such value may struggle to start for some teams around the world and needs find a new home.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
Arnold, No one is forcing them to, and the local alternative - Football Club United of Manchester - has season tickets for a hundred quid.
Red Kev
Roar Guru
Nothing illustrates the absurdity of football more than applying the term "under-rated" to a guy who just commanded a $100M transfer fee!
j binnie
Guest
Steve - Have I to take it that if picking a team you would ignore Jonny Evans 115 top team apps,31 full internationals,Danny Wellbeck,90 first team apps,26 England caps,Hernandez,102 first team outings 66 "caps", Kagawa 38 first team apps,58 international caps,& young Januzaj, 29 first team outings and 2 full 'caps.Of course you would,they played in this 0-4 defeat against a third tier team but were signed for United,not by De Gaal,not by Moyes but the inimitable SAF who signed "that lot." jb
Garcia
Guest
The entire MK Dons squad cost £235,000 - Equivalent to less than a weeks wages for Wayne Rooney! Ha ha #MoyesIn
Punter
Guest
Could not agree more with this statement, without doubt the most underrated player on the planet.
Radelaide
Guest
That's what I was thinking, at Real he had a cast of thousands to take away the pressure but at Man U he's going to be double teamed the whole time.
Arnold Krewanty
Guest
$109 million transfer fee for a football player is a disgrace, while 13% of people in England live below the poverty line. How the average punter can dish out $950 a season for nose bleed seats at Old Trafford baffles me.
Steve
Guest
They've got Rojo and Di Maria - what about a cheeky punt on Biglia? I thought he was defensively very sound for Argentina in the World Cup, and would not break the bank by any means.
Steve
Guest
Di Maria is an incredible player. I think the value he has to Real Madrid will be seen this year. Barca and Atletico fans are all joyous at this move - they wish he was shipped last year instead of Ozil. Ancelotti saw the light last year, and without his contributions it is arguable they would not have won either trophy. For those who remember, Ronaldo was injured in the Copa final, and he struggled badly until a last minute penalty in the UCL final. Bale also was poor both games, but credit to him getting the go-ahead goal in both games. Di Maria was consistently outstanding in both games, scoring against Barca in the Final and was MoM against Atletico, assisting Bale for the tap-in. He was alost outstanding against Barca in the league when he assisted Benzema twice (and really he could've had 5 assists to Benzema in the first half alone if the big Frenchman wasn't so wasteful). He assisted more goals against Atletico (the team with the really stingy defence) last season than Barcelona scored against Atletico in the whole of last season. He runs all day - check out his assist to Bale in the 110th minute, running like the wind and skipping past players. A player who performs best against the best teams. That cannot be said of many players, and it is something that United have lacked for quite a while.
Steve
Guest
Agree. De Gea is the only bloke of the lot I would have regularly starting.