Angel Di Maria has admitted that his time at Manchester United under Louis van Gaal made him 'hate' being a player at the club. The Argentine winger, who joined United for a then British-record £59.7 million in 2014, spent just one season at Old Trafford before moving to Paris Saint-Germain.
Di Maria told the BBC that Van Gaal's management style was a key factor in his unhappiness. 'He never showed me what I was doing well, just the negatives, over and over. Eventually I got fed up,' Di Maria said. The forward also struggled with the climate and a burglary at his home, which compounded his desire to leave.
The 2014 World Cup finalist said that life in Manchester was difficult compared to his previous experiences in warmer climates. 'It gets dark really early and then the cold started. Everything kept snowballing,' he explained. Di Maria added that the break-in at his house was a turning point, saying, 'It made me hate being there.'
Van Gaal later claimed that he did not request Di Maria's signing and that it was a club decision. The Dutch manager also said he could not find a suitable position for Di Maria in his system. After leaving United, Di Maria rediscovered his form at PSG, where he spent seven years and won numerous trophies, and later scored in the 2022 World Cup final for Argentina.
