Manchester United transfer of Angel di Maria is no panic purchase – he will light up Old Trafford

Acquiring the man of the match from the most recent Champions League final can hardly be construed a panic purchase. No desperation can be found in wanting, hunting and successfully landing a versatile international of the pace, invention and energy of Angel di Maria.

Just because Manchester United also need strengthening elsewhere, notably in the heart of midfield and defense, does not mean the Angel of the North-west is a luxury signing. United have bought a formidable talent, according to the Telegraph.

Events of the evening of May 24 when Real defeated Atletico Madrid in Lisbon highlighted how Di Maria can deliver on the grand stages, how he possesses the resilience to keep running at opponents who chopped him down, pulled him back and hacked him down again. Atletico ganged up on Di Maria, realising he was the main threat with Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale initially subdued. Di Maria was poleaxed by Juanfran, caught late by Raul Garcia, was hounded by Thiago and had his shirt tugged by Miranda to stop him escaping.

He did not stop attacking, carrying on playing his 1-2s with first Fabio Coentrao and then Marcelo, raiding down the left, putting in 23 crosses during two hours of football. British eyes focused on Bale of Wales for what proved the winning goal but it was Di Maria’s run after 110 minutes, that “zig-zag” celebrated by Xabi Alonso, that made it. Cutting in from the wing, Di Maria left three Atletico players trailing. Even though Thibaut Courtois saved, the ball looped up for Bale. All the British headlines were about Bale’s part in the Decima but his goal celebration said it all, embracing Di Maria and thanking him.

So it is a critique deserving of derision to suggest Di Maria might find English football too bruising or stamina-sapping; he started out with Rosario Central in the Argentine league, hardly the most genteel of environments. It is a claim worthy of instant mockery that Di Maria might find the Premier League too quick; United are crying out for more pace and Di Maria provides that. Nobody would dare suggest Di Maria is not team-minded; 22 assists for Real last season confirm his selflessness.

Panic purchase? United’s manager, Louis van Gaal, has never seemed the type to rush blindly into situations; he is a deep-thinking citizen of a cerebral footballing nation with a wealth of experience who may be searching for United’s Arjen Robben, a fast-moving destroyer of defenses. The word around Van Gaal was that he wanted “four or five high-class players” and Di Maria certainly fits that bill.

M.D