Di Maria reveals he 'hated' Man Utd during Van Gaal fallout

Di Maria reveals he 'hated' Man Utd during Van Gaal fallout

Argentine winger Ángel Di María has opened up about his troubled stint at Manchester United, revealing that conflicts with manager Louis van Gaal led him to hate the club. Despite a difficult year that also included a traumatic home break-in, Di María says he has no regrets about his time at Old Trafford.

Sport

Ángel Di María has broken his silence on one of football's most turbulent short-term transfers, admitting that his single season at Manchester United left him with deep feelings of resentment toward the club — feelings he largely traces back to his fractious relationship with then-manager [Louis van Gaal](/politicians/louis-van-gaal).

The Argentine winger joined United from Real Madrid in the summer of 2014 for a then-British record fee of around £59.7 million, arriving with enormous expectations. However, things quickly soured at Old Trafford. Di María has revealed that clashes with Van Gaal over tactics and his role in the team made his experience at the club increasingly miserable, ultimately leading him to despise the institution itself rather than just the circumstances.

## A Season of Turmoil

Beyond the professional tensions, Di María's time in Manchester was also marked by a deeply personal ordeal — a break-in at his family home that reportedly shook his wife and children and accelerated his desire to leave England. The intrusion left a lasting psychological impact on the family, making their stay in Manchester even more difficult to endure.

Despite all of this, the former Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus star says he carries no regrets about the move. In his view, the experience — however painful — was part of his broader career journey. He departed United after just one season, joining PSG in 2015, where he would go on to become one of the club's most decorated players.

## No Regrets Despite the Pain

Di María's candid reflections shed light on a period that has long been considered one of the more costly missteps in Manchester United's recent transfer history. His comments also add a personal dimension to the well-documented turbulence of Van Gaal's tenure at Old Trafford, during which several high-profile players reportedly struggled under the Dutchman's demanding and inflexible style.

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