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The Nairobian

Louis van Gaal admits ‘star’signing was a mistake for Manchester United

Football

By Mirror | Aug 02, 2015

Louis van Gaal admits he blundered by signing winger Angel Di Maria, reports Steve Bates in the Sunday People.

Negotiations for the Argentina star to join Paris Saint-Germain for £45million are now at an advanced stage with Manchester United expected to turn to £22m Barcelona forward Pedro once the deal is completed.

Angry Reds fans have aimed criticism at the club for allowing Di Maria to leave so quickly.

But Van Gaal believed it was best to cut the club’s losses and allow the £59.7m British record signing to join the French champions – who wanted the player when he originally left Real Madrid a year ago.

Old Trafford sources revealed that United’s Dutch manager conceded there were no guarantees Di Maria would adapt to his famous ‘philosophy’ in the new campaign.

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As the season ended, the attacker – who scored only three Premier League goals for United – was given no assurances that he would be a regular starter and with PSG keen to move in Van Gaal sanctioned his departure.

A United source said last night: “I think the manager realised he’d made a mistake with Di Maria and it wasn’t going to work.

“Of course, Di Maria had a four-year contract and the club could have made him stay. But the manager felt that would be pointless if he didn’t have the confidence Di Maria would produce what he wanted.”

Van Gaal hinted he was ready to ditch Di Maria in May when he voiced doubts that he could adapt to what he wanted.

Van Gaal said at the time: “The players have had to adapt to the philosophy and Di Maria has to do that. He can still do that, of course, because every player can. But it’s important that he wants to do that in his head. When you are open for coaching then you can change. But a change of behaviour is difficult because it’s not easy.

“Always, the old errors are coming back so a change of behaviour is not so easy. So we have to wait and see.

“It’s not that Di Maria doesn’t have the quality. He has to perform in a way that we wanted. Not in the way I want, but in the way we want as a club.”

United paid Real a third of the near £60m transfer fee up front in Euros a year ago, and still owe the rest.