Angel Di Maria ‘didn’t give a f***’ about Manchester United’s No.7 shirt now being sought by Cristiano Ronaldo and blames his bitter spell at the club on former manager Louis van Gaal

Manchester United flop Angel Di Maria has claimed he didn’t give a f*** about the no.7 shirt and that Louis van Gaal has been the worst manager of his career.

United broke the Premier League transfer record to bring in Di Maria from Real Madrid for £59million in 2014 and he was promptly given the iconic shirt, but he only lasted a season before being moved on to PSG.

5

The Argentine got his career in England off to a flyer with a series of eye-catching goals and assists, but things soon dropped off following a burglary and his wife’s dislike of Manchester.

That’s far from the end of the story, though, with Di Maria now revealing that Van Gaal played a big part in such a swift and bitter end to his time at Old Trafford.

The Dutchman recently returned to management for the first time since he left United in 2016, taking over the reins as Netherlands boss for a third spell.

And Di Maria can understand why he’s been out of action for such a long time, saying: "My problem at Manchester was the coach. 

5

“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," Di Maria told Argentine TV network TyC Sports.

The legendary No.7 shirt at Manchester United has been worn by David Beckham, George Best and Cristiano Ronaldo, as well as Di Maria.

The club are even applying for special dispensation from the Premier League to take the number from Edinson Cavani and give back to Ronaldo, such is the prestige behind it.

5

But for 2021 Copa America winner Di Maria, it wasn’t a privilege at all.

"I didn't give a f*** about the Manchester United no.7," he said. 

"At first they talked to me a lot about it, it was just a shirt.”

Di Maria returned to Old Trafford with PSG in 2019, and there was no love lost between the player and supporters, who mocked fans by pretending to drink out of a bottle thrown at him.

5

The 33-year-old was later dumped into an advertising hoarding by Ashley Young, before wildly celebrating two assists in the 2-0 first leg Champions League win.

United had the last laugh, though, with Marcus Rashford’s 94th minute penalty securing a 3-1 win in Paris, sending Di Maria's PSG crashing out at the last 16 stage.

5