Angel di Maria has seemingly ruled out a move to Tottenham Hotspur, telling Canal Plus that he is ‘happy’ at Paris Saint-Germain and wants to play with Lionel Messi at the Ligue 1 giants.
On the same day that Neymar agreed a new four-year contract with the Parc des Princes club, an evergreen Argentine went a long way to easing the fears that are growing exponentially about his future in the French capital.
Despite playing the best football of his storied career at PSG over the last 18 months or so, Di Maria’s £220,000-a-week contract has been allowed to run down.
L’Equipe believe Tottenham are keen to reunite one of Europe’s most fearsome creative talents with his former Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho, with Fabrizio Romano claiming that talks have taken place between Spurs and Di Maria’s representatives.
But the 32-year-old has set his sights on playing alongside a certain Albiceleste star next season – and we don’t mean Erik Lamela.
“Messi? There may be possibilities,” Di Maria said in comments that angered Barcelona boss Ronald Koeman. “We have to stay quiet and see what will happen.
“I would love (to play with him).”
Pressed on his own future, a £44 million winger who famously lasted just one season at Manchester United in 2014/15 admitted that talks are ongoing over a new deal.
“We’re speaking calmly at the moment,” he added. “Neymar is a lot younger (than me), so it’s normal for them to speak to him first.
“We’re negotiating little by little, and the important thing is that I’m happy in Paris.”
Comparisons will inevitably be drawn between Di Maria and his one-time Real Madrid teammate Gareth Bale, who has looked a shadow of his old self since returning to North London.
But while Bale has been a fading force for a few years now, Di Maria is ageing like the finest bottle of bordeaux.
Since the start of last season, the Argentine has produced 18 goals and 34 assists.
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