Former Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has joked that he finds it 'sad' that Angel Di Maria considers him as the 'worst manager' he has ever played under.
Van Gaal, who is set to retire from management following the conclusion of the World Cup in Qatar, brought Di Maria to Old Trafford back in August 2014, signing him from Real Madrid for what, at the time, was a club-record fee of £59.7million. The Argentine flopped in United colours and left the club just under a year later, joining French giants Paris Saint-Germain.
The winger made just 32 appearances for United, scoring four goals. Di Maria did not enjoy his time in England and was glad to see the back of United.
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Slamming Van Gaal in September last year, Di Maria said: "My problem at Manchester was the coach. Van Gaal was the worst of my career.
"I would score, assist, and the next day he would show me my misplaced passes. He displaced me from one day to the other, he didn't like players being more than him."
Now, ahead of Friday evening's huge World Cup quarter-final between the Netherlands and Argentina in Qatar, the former United boss, in traditional Van Gaal fashion, has hit back at Di Maria, but in a sarcastic manner. He has sarcastically admitted that he was 'sorry' to learn of Di Maria's opinion of him, but pointed out how Memphis Depay, another former United flop, still gets on with him.
Addressing the media with Depay sat right next to him, Van Gaal said: "Di Maria calling me the worst manager he has ever had? He's one of the few players with this opinion.
"I'm really sorry about this and I find it sad he said this. Memphis had to deal with it too at Manchester, and now we kiss each other on the mouth!"
Van Gaal's admission, unsurprisingly, brought a smile to Depay's face, even if it did leave him feeling a tad embarrassed. The forward, who has scored one goal at this World Cup, covered his eyes with his hands, almost suggesting that he wished Van Gaal had not said what he just had.
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