Angel di Maria hasn’t always felt the love from Real Madrid. Now he’s fed up, and wants out.
At a Thursday press conference, Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti revealed that di Maria asked to leave Real Madrid this summer.
“Di Maria asked to go in the summer and has rejected an offer (of a new contract) from the club,” Ancelotti said, according to the BBC.
The news puts the likes of Manchester United and PSG on red alert, as di Maria has been linked with moves to both clubs for nearly 18 months.
Ancelotti said di Maria, 26, will have a future at Real Madrid if a move fails to materialize.
“The player has to look for a solution,” Ancelotti said. “If when the transfer market closes he’s still here, he will work with us like last season and there will be no problem.”
Di Maria joined Real Madrid from Portuguese club Benfica in 2010 in a transfer worth around £20 million ($33 million). Despite being a valuable member of the squad, di Maria often has been overshadowed by teammates such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Xabi Alonso and Gareth Bale, and criticized by part of the club’s fan base. Yet, di Maria was instrumental in Real Madrid’s greatest achievement in a decade, earning “man of the match” honors in the 2014 UEFA Champions League final win over Atletico Madrid.
Di Maria might have reached his breaking point when Real Madrid signed two attacking midfielders, Toni Kroos and James Rodriguez, this summer. The 2014 World Cup stars’ arrivals could further limit di Maria’s chances of playing his preferred role, and he decided that now is the time for a new adventure.
Real Madrid blows past Atletico Madrid in Champions League final >>
Real Madrid shopping di Maria around Europe (from early 2013) >>
Photo via Twitter/@beINSPORTSUSA
