Despite the pleadings of fans and Cristiano Ronaldo this summer, Real Madrid finally offloaded Angel Di Maria for a British record transfer fee after years of flying rumors.
Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has struggled at times this season to cope with his loss, as well as a vastly new squad, but he has revealed why the team let go their star winger.
After leading La Liga in assists last season and starring in the World Cup for Argentina, Di Maria apparently asked for exorbitant wages, and because of that the club would have to remodel its structure to accommodate him.
“Di Maria asked for a lot of money and preferred to leave to go find it,” Ancelotti told Spanish radio station Cadena COPE. “I was in agreement with the club. There are times when the club needs to say no. You can’t change the policies of the club for one player. The club couldn’t give him the money he wanted. They say that I’m the manager of the club; of course, I coach for the club, not for the players.”
That doesn’t sound like a man who is happy with the decision, but he respects where it is coming from.
Not that money has ever stopped Real Madrid from makings moves...
Although Manchester United still have gobs of holes in its defense, Di Maria has brought new life to its previously listless and disappointing attack, and Real Madrid fans have been calling for president Fiorentino Perez to explain the sale since he left.