How Angel Di Maria went from a £60m Man United transfer flop to more important than Neymar and Kylian Mbappe for PSG ahead of Champions League final
The sight of Angel Di Maria carving open one of the brightest and most talked-about teams at the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon will have been nostalgic for European football aficionados.
Di Maria was central to the downfall of RB Leipzig in the Champions League semi-final in the Portuguese capital for Paris Saint-Germain.
Yet his equally spell-binding performance for Real Madrid against Diego Simeone’s resolute Atletico Madrid side in the 2014 final seemed to set the Argentine on course for greatness.
Angel Di Maria stole the show against RB Leipzig
His man-of-the-match performance against Real’s city rivals earned him a lucrative move to Manchester United for a British record transfer fee as he seemed destined to lead a revolution under Louis van Gaal.
Yet the 32-year-old lasted just one season at Old Trafford before he was quickly shunted out of the exit door, written off as an expensive transfer mistake which the club had become all too accustomed to making.
In fact, the restart of Europe’s elite competitions has seen a host of former United players excel and it could conclude in Friday night’s Europa League final with Alexis Sanchez and Romelu Lukaku collecting their Europa League winner’s medal.
Yet the resurgent form of Di Maria is perhaps the most impressive of all as he seeks to conclude a rollercoaster six years at the highest level of European football with another Champions League winner’s medal – live on talkSPORT – on Sunday night.
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Sir Alex Ferguson presenting Di Maria with the man of the match award after the Champions League final in 2014Part of Di Maria’s brilliance during Madrid’s incredible run to La Decima six years ago was his versatility and selflessness in order to help the team.
Carlo Ancelotti slightly adapted his preferred 4-1-2-1-2 diamond formation to include Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale alongside Karim Benzema up front. This meant Di Maria was resigned to a role on the left hand side of a three man midfield next to Luka Modric and Xabi Alonso.
With Alonso suspended for the game in Lisbon, Di Maria was entrusted the attacking baton by Ancelotti to orchestrate attacks from all over the pitch. The former Benfica winger made 71 passes (3rd), attempted 23 crosses (1st) and had 126 touches (2nd) as he dominated from deep.
His sale to Man United to accommodate World Cup Golden Ball winner James Rodriguez will have come as little surprise to any who have watched the Galactico era. David Beckham usurped Claude Makelele and Gareth Bale replaced Mesut Ozil in moves which appeared to make sense only for reasons of vanity.
The former Benfica winger is accustomed to playing a withdrawn role alongside superstars
Initially, he began to thrive at Old Trafford and his exquisite lob over Kasper Schmeichel away to Leicester City highlighted his undeniable skill and also sky-rocketing confidence.
Yet Van Gaal’s football began to become stoic and the free-scoring duo of Robin van Persie and Radamel Falcao struggled immensely to get goals, with much of the blame aimed at Di Maria.
After his heroics for Real in a three-man midfield, DI Maria was now struggling to cope with the pressure of his move and the demands of English football on the left hand side of a midfield diamond.
A shift to the right hand side of a midfield five did little for his confidence, with an attempted burglary on his house as his young family slept proved to be the last straw and he joined Paris Saint-Germain the following summer.
The midfielder hit the ground running at Old Trafford
Yet his form tailed off under the tutelage of Louis van Gaal
So how on earth has Thomas Tuchel managed to restore his confidence and get him back to his best after his Old Trafford heartache? Quite simply, he has simplified his game.
As with Real Madrid, Di Maria is content to let his more esteemed colleagues share the spotlight whilst his carries on diligently with the unseen work.
That’s not to say the Argentina international is just a grafter; his tireless running is supplemented by his technical ability and footballing IQ.
Deployed in a wide right role not too dissimilar to his days with Benfica, Di Maria is granted the license to come inside and operate from midfield in the same areas he did to devastating effect at Madrid.
The 32-year-old has the ability to cut inside or find passes in behind high defensive lines like he does here for Mbappe against Monaco
It allows the 32-year-old to get in between the lines and take the ball on the half turn to either provide an assist or take the shot on himself with his dangerous left foot.
Prior to the cancellation of Ligue 1 owing to COVID-19, Di Maria averaged 4.39 crosses, 4.45 through passes and 2.94 key passes (per 90 minutes) as his creative spark was ignited.
With Neymar and Kylian Mbappe able to occupy roles on the last line of defence, space in behind became a real threat for teams facing PSG. Di Maria delivered 20 shot assists and 8 assists for just Mbappé in the league last season.
ANGEL DI MARIA’S GAME BY NUMBERS VS RB LEIPZIG
The Argentine was at his brilliant, big game best for PSG
- 100% shot accuracy (2/2)
- 100% take-ons completed (4/4)
- 8 penalty area entries
- 6 crosses
- 6 ball recoveries
- 5 chances created
- 3 Big Chances created
- 4 clearances
- 2 fouls won
- 2 assists
- 1 goal
It is not just his attacking work which makes Di Maria so crucial to this PSG side; his work rate and overall defensive contributions make him invaluable to Thomas Tuchel. Without the ball, the Parisians drop into a 4-4-2 shape and press relentlessly.
Often, it is the former Real Madrid man who leads the first press in the two alongside either Mbappe or Mauro Icardi.
Although he has six assists in the Champions League this season, his six ball recoveries against RB Leipzig highlight his undoubted importance to every aspect to PSG’s style of play.
While much of the pre-match build-up before Sunday will focus on Neymar, Mbappe or Robert Lewandowski, the importance of Di Maria to this fixture cannot be stressed highly enough.
Bayern played with an extremely high line against Lyon in their semi-final and the Argentine has the skills capable of dissecting any top European side to find either one of his strike partners up front.
He may not have had the looks to succeed at Real Madrid or the superstar quality to survive at Manchester United, but do not be surprised if ‘El Fideo’ (The Noodle) delivers another big game masterclass on Sunday night in Lisbon.
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