da dobrowin： Being the Premier League’s most expensive player has not been easy for Angel Di Maria. If he has a bad game, his massive price tag is the first thing that is used against him in the media.
da cassino： After being one of the big playmakers at Real Madrid, it was assumed he would pick up where he left off. When he has not lived up to expectation, he had been branded a Premier League ‘flop’. But Angel Di Maria is far from a ‘flop.’
United’s number seven has now racked up ten assists: six more than his teammates Radamel Falcao, Wayne Rooney, Ander Herrera and Juan Mata, who all have four to their name. In fact, the Argentine is second in the league for assists – only Chelsea’s Cesc Fabregas has more this season, which is no surprise.
How many Premier League players feature in the FIFPro World XI for 2014? Just one. Manchester United’s Angel Di Maria. Admittedly, his form at Real Madrid will have played a huge part in this inclusion, but even so, it’s an incredible achievement.
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Aside from the FIFPro World XI, Angel Di Maria was also one of the 23 players shortlisted for the Ballon d’Or. There was never any doubt that the award was going to Cristiano Ronaldo, but it shows how important Di Maria is.
It is worth noting that Di Maria has not been fit all season. But wasn’t that the norm for Manchester United in the first half of the season? He suffered from a hamstring injury that kept him out for the best part of four weeks, as well as a hip injury. Had he been fit all season, his goals and assists could well be higher.
His two red cards in United’s FA Cup exit at the hands of rivals Arsenal meant he was was suspended for the league game against Tottenham Hotspur. As United put in their best display of the season without him, he has been dropped to the bench ever since. He has featured, but he is yet to start. This is justified: it is important that players, regardless of their transfer fee, do not simply walk into Louis Van Gaal’s starting line up.
Not every player sets the world alight in their debut season in a new league, but Angel Di Maria has not done too badly. His stats are better than most, yet he is the one who is constantly being brought up in the media for not living up to expectation.
But United fans are backing him. He is a world class player and his transfer fee was always going to be big.
Judge him in a years time, then see if he is still a ‘flop’.
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