Player of the Week - Angel Di Maria

Record Breaker!

In August 2014, Manchester United signed Argentinian international, Angel Di Maria, for a record Premier League transfer fee of £59.7 million (€75 million or $97 million) from Spanish team Real Madrid. The transfer fee was also the 5th highest in football history.Di Maria is the second Argentinian to sign for Man Utd this summer, they have also signed the defender, Marcos Rojo, from Sporting Lisbon in Portugal. Di Maria is in good form at the moment. On his home debut he scored 1 and was involved in 3 other goals in a 4-0 win against QPR. A week earlier he had scored 1 and provided the assist for another 3 goals to help Argentina beat Germany 4-2 in an international friendly. The result was a small consolation for Argentina after losing the World Cup Final to the Germans only a few months ago. Di Maria missed the World Cup Final because of injury - maybe he would have made a big difference?

What do we know about Di Maria?

Di Maria was born in February 1988 in Rosario, the 3rd biggest city in Argentina, about 300 kilometres northwest of the capital, Buenos Aires. He is from a very poor family and when he was a child he often worked at a coal yard with his parents and two sisters. His parents often found it difficult to buy Di Maria football boots, but they always believed in him. When he was only 6 years old, he was discovered by scouts at Rosario Central and they paid 35 footballs to a local side which Di Maria was already playing for. He is worth a little more than that these days!

"When I played for Rosario Central it took 30 minutes to get to the training ground. My mother took me by bike, I'd sit on the back and my younger sister would sit on a seat on the handlebars. It was hard during winter. Can you believe we did this for 7 years?" Angel Di Maria

How has Di Maria's career progressed?

After spending over 12 years at Rosario Central, Di Maria was discovered by Portuguese club Benfica, while playing for Argentina at the under-20 World Cup in Canada. Di Maria played for the Portuguese club for 3 seasons and helped them win 2 cups and 1 Portuguese League title. In July 2010 he moved to Real Madrid in Spain. He was also successful at Madrid, and helped them win 4 cup competitions, the Spanish league title and last season's Champions League. In the Champions League Final, Di Maria was Man of the Match, which was presented by ex-Manchester Utd manager Sir Alex Ferguson. 

"Angel is a world-class midfielder but most importantly he is a team player. There is no doubting his immense natural talent." Louis van Gaal

Where will Di Maria play?

Di Maria can play as an attacking midfielder or as a winger and there has been lots of speculation about where his best position for Man Utd will be. The position he played most often at Real Madrid was a winger, but the Utd manager prefers to play with 3 central defenders and 2 wing-backs. Does this mean that Di Maria will play as a wing-back? He will have more defensive responsibilities in this position, but is a player who has lots of energy and stamina.

"Players often ask me where I get the strength to run so much. I have always been the same, it's just the way I am. I never stop running." Angel Di Maria

Alternatively, Di Maria might play as an attacking midfielder. At Real Madrid, Di Maria was often used behind the front 3 players and this could be his best position because he is quick and will add more pace to the United midfield. We could also see him in a number 10 position as a playmaker. We will have to wait and see!

Who else has worn the number 7 shirt at Man Utd?

Di Maria has been given the prestigious number 7 shirt at Manchester United. The Man Utd players that have worn number 7 include some of the best players to have played for the club. These players are not only great players but are players that will be remembered by Man Utd fans forever. Angel Di Maria joins a group of very famous players, from possibly Britain's best ever player (George Best) to Di Maria's teammate of the last few seasons (Cristiano Ronaldo). In a few years, will Di Maria be remembered in the same way? 

"I am very happy to be joining Manchester United. I have enjoyed my time in Spain and there were a lot of clubs interested in me, but United is the only club that I would have left Real Madrid for." Angel Di Maria

Watch a video about Angel Di Maria and his career so far on Man Utd's official website.

What did you understand?

How much did you understand?

Quick Quiz

Activity 1: In this activity, try to answer the questions to show how much of the article you understand.

Play this game to remember some of the words from the article.

Di Maria Hangman

Activity 2: Have a go at this game against the clock. Can you put the words in the right order?

Did you know......?

• When Di Maria was only 1 year old, he fell down a well and had to be rescued by his family.
• Di Maria won a gold medal with the Argentinian football team at the Beijing Olympics in 2008.
• Di Maria's nickname is noodle, which is a type of pasta often used in Chinese cooking.
• Angel Di Maria became the 4th Argentinian to play for Man Utd after Juan Sebastian Veron, Gabriel Heinze and Carlos Tevez.
• Di Maria missed the World Cup Final in Brazil because of a thigh injury.