SELLING DI MARIA WOULD BE A HUGE MISTAKE

The biggest clubs in world football are constantly striving to improve on what they already possess. This can have detrimental affects along with positive ones. There are some players that, despite the obvious merits in their ability, are deemed not fashionable enough for their sides. The cohesive team unit is abandoned in search of the greatest set of individuals that money can buy.

This happens more often at Spain’s big two than anywhere else in the world, although it’s not mutually exclusive to the Galactico pairing.  Gonzalo Higuain and Mesut Ozil were examples of this last summer at the Bernabeu. Both players had performed well during their time in Madrid, but they needed to be sold to help finance the purchase of Gareth Bale.

If Di Maria is to depart in the next few weeks, it won’t be because he isn’t rated by his manager. "I spoke with Ancelotti last summer. I wanted to stay put and he wanted me to stay as well," Di Maria told Marca in May. It did seem like his days were numbered, but his importance was huge as Carlo Ancelotti used 4-3-3 and 4-4-2 formations. The arrival of Bale was meant to spell the end of his first-team appearances, but the Welshman’s initial fitness problems enabled Di Maria to keep his place out wide.

He then took advantage of Sami Khedira’s long-term injury and found a role in Ancelotti’s three-man midfield. It did seem initially that his lack of physicality would disrupt the balance, but the energy and thrust that Di Maria provided compensated somewhat alongside Xabi Alonso and Luka Modric’s passing capability.
s a collective they were superb, whilst Di Maria’s adaptability meant that he was the tactical lynchpin for the team.

Just by altering the deployment of the former Benfica winger, Ancelotti is able to change his system within matches without the need to consult his bench. Di Maria had an exceptional campaign, he only found the net four times, but contributed the highest amount of assists in La Liga with 17. The closest competitors to that figure were Chelsea’s new signing Cesc Fabregas and Atletico Madrid’s Koke with 13. He also led the way in the Champions League with only Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney and fellow teammate Karim Benzema able to keep up with five.

In the World Cup he was an important member of Alejandro Sabella’s squad, scoring the goal in extra time that took them into the last eight.His time in Brazil ended prematurely after sustaining a thigh injury when attempting a shot against Belgium in the quarter-finals. The likelihood is that Di Maria will be leaving Real Madrid this summer, but his versatility means they are crazy to let him move