Zee Media Bureau/Rajdeep SahaNew Delhi: Manchester United are reportedly set to break their transfer record once again, as they are eyeing to bring Real Madrid, Angel Di Maria to Old Trafford for a fee of GBP 60m. Earlier, in January this year, the Red Devils had bought former Chelsea star, Juan Mata for a club record fee of GBP 37.5m. Now Di Maria looks on his way to Louis van Gaal`s team and thus breaking Mata`s record.
With a host of record British transfers in recent times, Fernando Torres leads the race after his big money switch from Liverpool to Chelsea in 2011 for a cool GBP 50m. That same year, Manchester City and Liverpool broke their transfer fee records by buying Sergio Aguero and Andy Carrol respectively. While Aguero joined the Manchester giants for GBP 38m from Atletico Madrid of Spain, Carrol moved from Newcastle United to Merseyside for GBP 35m.
Last season, Arsenal broke their club fee record after buying Mesut Ozil from Real Madrid for a huge sum of £42.4m. That happened after the German star had got dissatisfied with the arrival of Gareth Bale. This season Alexis Sanchez joined the Gunners from Barcelona for £35m stating Arsenal`s intent in going big in the transfer market once again.
Di Maria is believed to join United next week after the completion of the deal and if reports are true, he will go on to set a benchmark of transfer valuation in England. Di Maria who had moved to Real from Portuguese giants Benfica in 2011, scored 36 goals in 190 games for the club. He also made the most number of assists (17) last season for Real which was the best figures for a player in top five European leagues. The Argentine stalwart was nominated for the Golden Ball award in the recently concluded FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
The arrival of Toni Kroos and James Rodriguez at Real seems to have sidelined Di Maria further down the pecking order under manager, Carlo Ancelotti.
Spain boast of the biggest transfers in world football. Real Madrid account for the highest transfer fee record with Gareth Bale (GBP 85m), Cristiano Ronaldo (GBP 80m) and James Rodriguez (GBP63m). Barcelona too broke their record this season after buying Luis Suarez for a club record fee of GBP 75m. Earlier, their purchases of Zlatan Ibrahimovic in 2009 and Neymar in 2013 saw the Catalans pay heavy in the market.
Meanwhile, England have received the highest transfer fee record from top clubs of other nations in recent times. The likes of Gareth Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo, Luis Suarez and David Luiz all made the switch to different pastures.
The next few days will be interesting for British football with Angel Di Maria being the sensation in the market activities.
First Published: Sunday, August 24, 2014, 15:05
