Angel di Maria's top 5 performances for Real Madrid

The trademark celebration by Angel di Maria

The creative winger from Rosario, Argentina has scored a total of 25 goals for Los Blancos ever since signing from S.L. Benfica for an undisclosed fee, and is poised to leave Madrid amidst rumours of bids from Arsenal and Manchester United.

Angel di Maria wants to stay and fight for his place even though Madrid want to offload him to make space for Bale, another Galactico signing by Florentino Perez as he had to answer to Barcelona‘s signing of Neymar.

Just one day of transfer window left, and it looks like Di Maria is set to start on the bench most of the time as Isco, Bale and Ronaldo are set to start for Carlo Ancelotti.

The Argentine talisman has got an unparalleled vision and passing skills which helped Madrid in innumerable matches.

The following are the Argentine wizard, Angel di Maria’s top 5 performances for Real Madrid.

5) Stunning against Barcelona, 27th February 2013

Coming off the bench and assisting a goal against rivals is not an easy thing. But Di Maria proved an exception, as he came off the bench and repeatedly threatened to score against Barcelona in the second leg of Copa Del Rey semifinal in one of the most exciting El-Clasicos as Madrid showed its dominance against the Blaugrana in a gripping encounter.

Di Maria showed his impeccable passing and dribbling skills which took Barcelona’s defence by storm. Constantly threatening the defence from the right flank, di Maria finally got the ball and dribbled past a couple of defenders and left Puyol on his backside by his marvelous dribbling skills before taking a shot at the goal which was stopped well by Jose Pinto, only to meet Ronaldo, who slotted the ball in the left corner.

4) Scintillating performance against Levante, 22nd December 2010

Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo were the heroes, both grabbing a hat-trick a piece. But it was the Argentine talisman who stole the spotlight as he assisted 3 goals and put on a marvelous display of his dribbling skills and vision.

In an emphatic victory against Levante, Madrid showed its dominance by scoring 8 goals and maintained a clean-sheet as well. Di Maria was constantly threatening Levante’s defence with his pace down the right-flank.

He went close to scoring a goal, but was saved by the keeper. However, that didn’t keep him down as the winger set up 3 goals for both Ronaldo and Benzema combined as they both got their hat-tricks. A remarkable display by the young Argentine.

3) Magnificent goal against Barcelona, 23rd August 2012

Though Barcelona won the match fair and square, it was Madrid who won everyone’s hearts as they showed their “Never Die” attitude and did their best to go into the second leg with a hope of winning.

Coming off the bench, di Maria was at his best, threatening the defence with his gifted vision and passing skills.

He was finally gifted the opportunity as Valdes appeared to be under little pressure when collecting a backpass, but saw the ball stick under his feet, allowing the Argentine winger to steal in and put it into the back of the net, a moment that Valdes would never forget in his life.

2) Splendid goal against Sporting Gijon, 3rd December 2011

It was the time when Jose Mourinho picked out di Maria as his starter over Ozil and Kaka, and he lived up to the expectations.

In the match against Gijon, di Maria set up Ronaldo before scoring his own marvelous goal from an almost impossible angle. It was typical di Maria, constantly troubling the defence with his pace and dribbling skills. He got close to scoring twice, but Juan Pablo managed to sabotage the opportunity.

1) Brace against Valencia, 20th January 2013

Madrid, fresh from the defeat against Barcelona, faced a lacklustre Valencia side. Looking to close the gap, Di Maria set up Higuain as he opened the scoring, and then both Ronaldo and di Maria ran riot as Madrid won the match 5-0, thanks to a brace by both Ronaldo and di Maria.

It was the magic of di Maria that Madrid won the match, scoring 2 goals and an assist. Di Maria bagged Man of the Match award.