Phil Jones describes £60m Man Utd flop as a 'little lost soul' before debut

Di Maria was brought in for a whopping £59.7m from Real Madrid in 2014, setting a new record at the time for Manchester United's highest transfer fee paid.

Despite arriving at Old Trafford having won the Champions League and Copa del Rey the season prior in Spain, the Argentine failed to live up to expectations under Louis van Gaal.

The 36-year-old lasted just one year in England, notching up just four goals in 32 appearances in all competitions before being sold to Paris Saint-Germain for £44m.

Troubles off the pitch, including an attempted burglary at his Manchester home, affected the Di Maria but Jones believes his time at United was doomed from the off, recalling a concerning image of the midfielder prior to his debut for the club.

‘I look at Angel Di Maria, I think “wow”,’ Jones told United legend Rio Ferdinand on his YouTube channel.

‘I remember his first game away at Burnley, I remember getting into the dressing room, tight as anything, he looked like a little lost soul.

‘He got absolutely battered, absolutely mullered. Every time he got the ball, “whack”.

‘He just never really got United. Maybe the manager didn’t help, he didn’t get along with him. I’ve seen so many players, they don’t perform because the shirt’s so heavy, and they go on to do well in their career.’

Pressed on why some players fail to live up to expectations at OId Trafford, Jones replied: ‘Pressure. It’s pressure to win every game.

‘The pressure, the fans, the expectancy. We’ve been so used to winning for so long that that’s the level. If you come to Man Utd you get to that level or you’re out the door.

‘As footballers you have to be able to deal with stuff like that. Playing for Man Utd you have to deal with that, those are the pressures and the environment that you have to face every single day.’

Di Maria, meanwhile, has no love lost for his time at United, categorically naming Van Gaal as the worst coach he has played under in a recent interview.

‘The worst is Van Gaal, you can be sure of that. In case you had any doubt, I’ll clear that up for you right now,’ Di María told ESPN in August.

Following his stint at PSG, Di Maria spent one season at Juventus before returning to Portuguese side Benfica where he still plays.

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