Angel Di Maria Completes €25m Transfer To Real Madrid
Argentina international Angel di Maria has completed his move to Real Madrid from Benfica for a reported fee of €25m, signing a six-year contract at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The exciting 22-year old has been consistently linked with a switch to the Spanish capital, with the player confirming to his former Benfica team-mates that the deal was all but done.
Publication AS comments that newly appointed los Blancos coach, Jose Mourinho, had expressly asked for the signature of the flying winger, who is currently representing his nation at the World Cup in South Africa.
Assisted by the player’s agent, Jorge Mendes, Real Madrid and Benfica reached an agreement for a fee of €25m, which is €15m less than the buy-out clause in di Maria’s contract.
However, in the wake of As Aguias’ chairman Luis Filipe Vieira disclosing in a TV interview that di Maria would be leaving the club in next few days, it is reported that the deal has now been competed.
Di Maria began his career in 2005 in his homeland with Rosario Central. He moved to Portugal in 2007, and in his final season at the Estadio da Luz he helped Benfica to their first league title in five seasons.
Now, he becomes Jose Mourinho's first signing as Real Madrid bid to halt Barcelona from winning their third consecutive Primera Division title.
Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has admitted that the club have chosen Jose Mourinho to succeed Manuel Pellegrini.
"We have decided that Jose Mourinho will be the coach," Perez told a press conference.
“Pellegrini has finished this stage at Real Madrid. We will hire Jose Mourinho as coach once his contract situation is resolved with Inter.”
Following the completion of his historic treble with the Nerazzurri in the Champions League final this past weekend, Mourinho had himself admitted a move to Madrid was likely and Perez is confident they are getting the best coach in the business.
“He fits in with the style of play at Real Madrid that is to win first of all, with sacrifice and virtue of team spirit,” he added, in regards to suggestions that Mourinho’s defensive style won’t go down too well with the fans.
“We have learned here at Real Madrid that we should not just settle for anything, and we could not pass up the opportunity of getting the best in the world."
It appears that the first Albiceleste reinforcement of the season will be heading across the pond and bulking up Capello’s squad at the White House.
River Plate striking star Gonzalo Higuaín, recently involved in a minor imbroglio that saw him side with Argentina over his native France, is now a Real Madrid player.
Ramón Calderón appears to have sealed the deal for around 13 million Euros, 2 million higher than the Merengue President had intended to spend, but considered a necessary outlay to rejuvenate the ageing Real Madrid attack.
The extra effort was seen as worthwhile as Higuaín comes equipped with EU passport unlike recent Flu signing Marcelo.
Gonzalo Higuaín will arrive in Madrid after the New Year, donning a Real Madrid jersey for the next six and a half years.
After losing the Apertura tournament with River arch-rivals Boca Juniors, midfielder Fernando Gago is hoped to be next in line.
Fans have taken certain declarations against the player and President Maurício Macri will be more amenable to a reasonable sale.
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