Angel Di Maria has launched an attack on Manchester United and claims he ‘didn’t give a f***’ about inheriting the club’s No.7 shirt.
The famous jersey has been synonymous with a series of totemic figures which include players like Bryan Robson, Cantona, David Beckham and Ronaldo.
After a 12-year absence, Ronaldo’s return to Old Trafford was confirmed last week after United beat rivals Man City to the signing of the player.
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The Portuguese forward is in line to make his second debut for United next weekend against Newcastle, but it is yet to be confirmed whether or not he will reclaim his favourite squad number.
The Red devils are reported to have written to the Premier League, asking for special dispensation which would see Cavani take the No.21 shirt and vacate the number for Ronaldo.
Di Maria, a former teammate of Ronaldo’s at Real Madrid, struggled to adapt to the Premier League after his move to United and says he failed to understand the significance of being handed the No.7 shirt himself.
‘I didn’t give a f*** about the Manchester United No.7,’ Di Maria was quoted telling Libero on TyC Sports. ‘At first they talked to me a lot about it… it was just a shirt.’
After just a campaign in England, Di Maria moved to PSG and has steadily rebuilt his reputation as one of Europe’s most potent wingers.
Di Maria has never been able to forget that spell in Manchester, however, and continues to reserve special ire for Van Gaal, who he believes ruined any chance he had of succeeding at the club.
He added: ‘My problem at Manchester was the coach. Van Gaal was the worst of my career.
‘I would score, assist, and the next day he would show me my misplaced passes.
‘He displaced me from one day to the other, he didn’t like players being more than him.’
