Angel Di Maria hits out at Manchester United: 'It was hard watching the Champions League on TV last season'

The Argentinian moved to PSG for £44m last season

James Orr
Monday 14 September 2015 11:56 BST
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PSG winger Angel Di Maria
PSG winger Angel Di Maria (GETTY IMAGES)

Angel Di Maria has spoken about his "unhappy" season at Manchester United, saying that it was tough having to watch the Champions League on television last season, a year after winning Europe's elite competition with Real Madrid.

Despite an impressive start, the Argentina winger faltered during his season at United, failing to justify his British-record £59.7m transfer fee. He moved to PSG for £44m this summer, and says he and his family were never happy in Manchester.

PSG take on Malmo in the Champions League group stage on Tuesday night, the competition that Di Maria missed playing in last season.

"Last season was tough for me. I didn't play much and it was difficult watching the Champions League on television when I had won it the season before with Madrid," Di Maria said in an interview with Le Parisien.

"On Tuesday I will feel the same emotion as I have every time since my first match for Benfica. It is a magnificent competition."

"Honestly, we were not happy," he said. "At the beginning, we were a little. But then things became complicated. Life in England was a bit difficult. It is not easy for a South American. Some people get on fine, and for others it is harder to adapt.

"I didn't get on very well with the coach, so I think the decision to join Paris was the best solution. After [the break-in] it wasn't reasonable to stay. My family wasn't happy. My daughter was suffering. So it was important to leave.

"From the little I have seen, our life here in France resembles more the life we led in Spain or Portugal. And at the moment we are 100 percent satisfied."

"I have been lucky enough to play with Leo [Messi], Cristiano [Ronaldo] and [Wayne] Rooney. And now Ibra," he said.

"Frankly, I am impressed by his technical quality and his movement. He is on the same level as Leo and 'CR7.' They are players who can make the difference near the penalty area."

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