Angel Di Maria reveals Laurent Blanc's phone call convinced him to leave Manchester United and join PSG

Angel Di Maria is enjoying a better stint at Paris Saint-Germain

Angel Di Maria has revealed that a phone call from Paris Saint-Germain coach Laurent Blanc fuelled his desire to leave Manchester United. Blanc had apparently given him a call when Di Maria was enjoying his holiday after finishing the 2014/15 season with Manchester United and representing Argentina in the Copa America.

The Argentine winger had made a record-breaking transfer to Manchester United in 2014 from Real Madrid with a transfer fee of £59.1 million. It was in many ways a loss for Real Madrid and supposedly a huge gain for United. Di Maria, for the most part of his time at Old Trafford, played in different positions he deemed uncomfortable. Eventually, he would only score four times in 32 appearances for the club as his poor form saw Louis van Gaal drop him to the bench.

There was also the unfortunate event of his house being burgled which made life in Manchester uncomfortable for Di Maria and his family. Reports of a fallout with Van Gaal also did the rounds and rumours of a possible departure from Old Trafford were rampant. Di Maria finally did head for the exit as PSG snapped him up for £44 million.

Blanc wanted me for several reasons: Di Maria

Speaking about the phone call, Di Maria said: “He [Blanc] said he was very happy to recruit me, that he had wanted me for several seasons. Obviously, this gave me an added incentive to sign for PSG.

“The first time we spoke, it was before I signed for PSG. This made me very happy. It happened the same way when Mourinho made me come to Real Madrid.

“They called me before and I spoke with them. Blanc called me when he was in the United States and I was still on holiday.”

Di Maria has already netted seven times for PSG this season and his importance in the team has been growing. On the other hand, United have been struggling for form. They have been winless in five consecutive games and failed to qualify for the Champions League knockout stages.

Fellow Old Trafford outcast Javier Hernandez had also opened up about how Van Gaal had told him that his chances of playing for United was 1%. Chicharito is currently playing for Bayer Leverkusen and is in fine form having scored 18 goals this season.