Former Manchester United and Argentina winger Angel Di Maria has remained firm against one remark that Louis van Gaal made about him during his time at Old Trafford.
There was no love lost between Angel Di Maria and Louis van Gaal by the time the former Real Madrid star made his high-profile exit from Old Trafford in 2025.
Di Maria was a key Manchester United signing for Van Gaal, who replaced David Moyes at Old Trafford, ahead of the 2014-15 Premier League campaign.
However, the 38-year-old Argentine did not see eye to eye with the former United manager over his tactical approach, including being played in different positions.
Who scored the first goal for Man Utd under Louis van Gaal?
Angel Di Maria sets the record straight over Louis van Gaal’s comments ahead of his Man Utd exit in 2015
Angel Di Maria’s ill-fated Old Trafford spell lasted only one season after Manchester United broke the then-British record transfer fee to sign him for £59.7m in 2014.
Louis van Gaal staunchly defended his approach with Di Maria after turning to the ex-Real Madrid winger for roles in midfield and as a No 10 in the 2014-15 season.
Di Maria, whose United spell was impacted by injuries, was linked with Ligue 1 side Paris Saint-Germain in 2015 before he made his £44.3m move to the French capital.
Speaking to BBC Sport, the former PSG and Juventus star hit out at Van Gaal’s claims that he did not show up for pre-season amid uncertainty around his future.
“He said I never showed up [for pre-season], but I had already said I wanted to leave and that I wasn’t going to report back to the club,” he said.
“I stayed in Rosario until a decision was made.”
Who is Manchester United’s best manager since Sir Alex Ferguson?
Angel Di Maria explains the three major factors that determined the end of his Man Utd spell
Outside of his dynamic with Van Gaal and his struggles on the pitch, Di Maria admitted that external factors off the pitch also impacted his time in England.
“If you are unhappy, your family is unhappy, if your house gets burgled, you fall out with the manager and things aren’t going well, it’s very difficult to say I loved my time in Manchester,” Di Maria added.
“That is the reality.”
Di Maria went on to play for the likes of PSG, Juventus and Benfica after his Man Utd exit, with the 2022 World Cup winner currently at Argentine side Rosario Central.
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
