Louis van Gaal raises Angel di Maria transfer fee for attending PSG medical in Qatar without permission

The picture Di Maria posted on his Instagram account that reportedly infuriated Van Gaal

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal is understood to have raised the transfer fee of Angel di Maria’s move to Paris Saint-Germain, The Independent reports. Reports earlier in the week had suggested that a fee of £44 million had been agreed between the two clubs, but the Dutchman is holding out for an extra £3 million as he was infuriated by the Argentine international’s presence in Qatar, where he underwent his PSG medical, without getting permission from United to do so.

Di Maria had been given permission to talk to the French champions, but not to go to Qatar. Neither clubs have officially announced the transfer, but the move is expected to go through in the coming days, with only the final transfer fee remaining a doubt.

Di Maria struggled to adapt to football and life in England following his arrival from Real Madrid for a British transfer record deal. Van Gaal is content to let the winger leave but has been left infuriated with his behaviour.

He failed to turn up for the club’s pre-season tour in the United States after apparently missing a flight and the Dutchman certainly didn’t hide his frustration while enquired on Di Maria’s whereabouts.

“Di Maria and (Marcos) Rojo are not on the plane. He [Rojo] has passport issues, but for Di María, I don’t know why,” Van Gaal said.

The club took action for Di Maria’s ‘no show’ by imposing a fine of £3,60,000, equivalent to the player’s two weeks wages at United.

Aspetar, the hospital in Doha where the 27-year-old reportedly underwent his medical, had confirmed on its official Twitter account that the player was indeed present and passed the medical.

Di Maria has seemingly already confirmed that Parc des Princes will be his new home as he leaves Old Trafford after just one season.

"I am very happy to join Paris St-Germain. They're very important,” Di Maria said. “They made it to the quarter-finals of the Champions League, so my objective is to arrive in Paris and to help them through the quarter-final barrier because they have struggled in the past two seasons.

"I will try to do the best I can to help the club in those objectives and reach the final stages of the Champions League,” he added.

The move might be a formality, but Van Gaal is certainly not letting go of Di Maria without making his stand clear.