Signing Angel Di Maria would be perfect deal for Manchester United

Recent weeks have seen the revival of a transfer rumour going back to the player’s Benfica days, with Real Madrid’s Angel Di Maria once again being linked with a move to Manchester United.

According to Ben Jefferson of the Express, the Red Devils are keen to make a big January coup in signing both the Argentina international and his Los Merengues teammate, Sami Khedira. For now, we’re only concerned with the South American, who would be looking to bring a much-needed touch of quality to David Moyes’ wings should a move come about.

The wide areas have been a highly contentious part of Manchester United’s setup this season, and it speaks volumes that despite starting just three Premier League games, Adnan Januzaj reigns as the club’s best winger in terms of Performance Score obtained thus far in the campaign. The 18-year-old has been a breath of fresh air at times in what’s been an otherwise stagnated selection of Antonio Valencia, Ashley Young, Shinji Kagawa and the otherwise absent Nani.

Di Maria, on the other hand, continues to play a big role under Carlo Ancelotti, featuring in 12 of the club’s 13 La Liga outings this term. The notion is that as Gareth Bale grows to have a bigger impact on Real Madrid matters, it will be the Argentinean who loses out.

However, it’s a haunting that obviously hasn’t affected the player and, in a way, Di Maria is showing his form to be of the “un-droppable” variety at the moment, currently leading the club’s ranks in terms of chances created with 23.

This is an especially impressive return given that the South American managed to make just 45 scoring opportunities over the course of last season’s league campaign, showing that he might be one of those thriving in the absence of Mesut Ozil.

With Ozil went one of Real Madrid’s most influential central figures, so it’s no surprise to see Di Maria cutting in off his right flank on occasion and drifting through the central channels. However, the inverted winger continues to do his best work when utilising his speed, driving to the by-line and delivering from out wide, relying largely on the strength of his crosses for his individual success.

Nani Total Chances Created

Antonio Valencia Total Chances Created

Nani is the closest thing United have to this kind of presence—something many would call a ‘true’ winger, where pace and creativity are all that matters in the craft. Despite making just four Premier League starts this term, Nani has made the most scoring chances of any winger under Moyes’ command, Wayne Rooney not being included on account of his tendency to mosey around the attacking line.

In a way, Di Maria is almost a version of what many a Manchester United fan might hope Nani might be: a more efficient and conservative version of what he already is. By all means, the South American likes to dribble and can dazzle with the best, but shows more of a cutting edge in his shooting, for example, getting 61% of his attempts on target this term, just 3% behind Cristiano Ronaldo’s rate.

Learned in the responsibilities of the inverted winger, Di Maria has also shown the ability to play off his favoured side, too, however, and won three of his four tackles down the left flank against Real Vallecano several weeks ago. The Argentine isn’t exactly famed for his duties in tracking back, but it’s good to see the potential to do so is in his locker.

In short, Di Maria would sit among the ‘purest’ of Manchester United wingers were he to complete a move to the northwest, a presence that the suffocated squad look in need of right now. Opening up their horizons along with their wider areas, Moyes is looking for an exciting marquee man to light up his Premier League prospects, and Real Madrid’s man could be just the impetus needed at Old Trafford.