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Angel Di Maria's Struggle at Manchester United Uncovered

Unveiling the reasons behind Angel Di Maria's disappointment at Manchester United, this blog post delves into the turbulent relationship between the winger and his ex-coach Louis van Gaal as well as the personal challenges faced during his time in Manchester.

Angel Di Maria's Struggle at Manchester United Uncovered

Angel di Maria has lifted the lid on why his time at Manchester United was such a disappointment. The winger joined United for a then club record fee of £60m just after helping Real Madrid win their first Champions League in 12 years and reaching the World Cup final with Argentina. But after a promising start he began to struggle at the Red Devils and sought an exit after his first season.Di Maria got off to a flying start for United, scoring and getting an assist in a 4-0 thrashing of Queens Park Rangers in his home debut. He also scored and assisted in his next game against Leicester City although that match ended in a 5-3 defeat. He was on target again against Everton in his seventh appearance but things soon unravelled and he only scored one more goal before leaving for Paris Saint-Germain, signing off a hugely disappointing spell at the Red Devils with four goals and 11 assists in 32 appearances.The footballer and his family also suffered a traumatic incident when their house was broken into by thieves while they were at home. But the biggest factor in him failing to deliver and wanting to leave so soon was the breakdown in his relationship with coach Louis van Gaal, who was fiercely critical with Di Maria whenever he made a mistake during a game such as giving the ball away.Di Maria and former team-mate Ander Herrera have spoken about that unhappy year in 'Angel di Maria: Breaking down the Wall',  an upcoming Netflix documentary about the Argentine's career.Di Maria said: "We were winning, I was making assists and scoring, but he didn’t mention that. He only ever wanted to talk about the mistakes. Identifying and learning from your mistakes is crucial, of course. But given my position as a forward, I’m bound to make mistakes because I’m always trying. My job is to always go for an assist or take a shot on goal."Former United midfielder Herrera, who spent five years at United, added: "Van Gaal was the type of coach who was very critical when analysing his players’ actions. And I found it surprising that he considered it unacceptable for Angel to make three or four mistakes per game. It reached a point where things just got out of hand. Compared to everyone else on the team, it seemed like the coach was being way stricter with him. Eventually, I think all the criticism ended up undermining Angel’s confidence."Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reportingDi Maria explained that the spotlight was on him due to the fanfare following his signing and he gave a brutally honest assessment of his solitary season at United. He explained: "I had sold more jerseys than anyone else upon my arrival to the Premier League, so I was finding myself under a lot of pressure. Really, that year was s***."As well as the player having a difficult relationship with Van Gaal, his wife Jorgelina Cardoso was deeply unhappy in Manchester. Indeed, she never wanted to move there in the first place after disliking it during a visit to see Sergio Aguero after he had signed for Manchester City. She revealed: "I didn’t want to go to Manchester because at that moment in time, I was friends with Gianinna Maradona, who was married to [Sergio] Aguero, and we flew from Madrid to his house in Manchester to pay him a visit for two or three days when Angel had a few days off at Real Madrid."It was horrible! All of it was horrible, we went to the house and we were like... ‘See you later guys, we’re out of here’. When we left, I said to him, ‘Go to any country – except England’. Anyway, one year later and there we were in England and it was horrible, a sh**hole. You’re walking down the street and you don’t know if they’re going to kill you or what. All the girls are all dolled up, perfectly made-up and there’s me with my hair in a bun and with no make-up on."The Argentine did not let his nightmare season in Manchester drag him down, however. He scored 92 goals and contributed 120 assists for PSG in a trophy-laded seven year spell while also going on to win three consecutive trophies with Argentina, the Copa America in 2021 and 2024 as well as finally lifting the World Cup, scoring in the final against France. The 38-year-old is now seeing out his career back in his home country with his boyhood club Rosario Central.

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The Rise and Fall at Manchester United

Angel Di Maria's arrival at Manchester United came with high expectations, having played a pivotal role in Real Madrid's Champions League victory and Argentina's World Cup final appearance. Despite a promising start, his form soon dipped as he struggled to live up to the hype, culminating in a premature exit to Paris Saint-Germain.

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Coach - Player Dynamics

The breakdown between Di Maria and Louis van Gaal offers insight into the challenges faced by the winger during his time at Old Trafford. Van Gaal's relentless focus on Di Maria's mistakes rather than his contributions on the field created a toxic environment that ultimately eroded the player's confidence and performance.

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Personal Turmoil

Di Maria's off-field struggles, including a traumatic break-in at his home and his wife's disdain for Manchester, added to the pressure and discomfort he experienced during his stay in England. The constant scrutiny and expectations, both on and off the pitch, made it a challenging period for the Argentine and his family.

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Recovery and Resilience

Despite the setbacks at Manchester United, Angel Di Maria staged a remarkable resurgence at Paris Saint-Germain, where he flourished and achieved significant success. His achievements with PSG and the Argentine national team reflect his ability to overcome adversity and find success after a tumultuous period.

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Legacy and Reflection

Angel Di Maria's candid recollection of his time at Manchester United serves as a reminder of the highs and lows that professional athletes endure. His journey from adversity to triumph highlights the resilience and determination that define his career, inspiring others to persevere in the face of challenges.

Published on Feb 27, 2026
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