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Angel di Maria has told that talk of a transfer to Tottenham "hurt".
The Real Madrid forward was linked with a switch to White Hart Lane last summer amid the £86m deal for Gareth Bale in the other direction.
However, despite much talk as the two clubs experienced a summer of transition, the Argentina international remained at the Bernabeu and flourished during a campaign that ended with victory in the Champions League final.
Di Maria has now opened up about the situation last summer and the talk of a move to Spurs.
“It hurts when you’re always doing your best for your club and then you hear that you might be going to Tottenham," he told Marca.
“I spoke with the manager last summer. I wanted to stay and he wanted me to stay as well. He told me that he counted on me and it was up to me from then on.
“I have grown a lot under Ancelotti," he continued. "He got the best out of me. Things have gone well and I made the right decision to stay.”
Show all 24 1 /24Champions League Final: Real Madrid 4 Atletico Madrid 1 (aet) - player ratings Champions League Final: Real Madrid 4 Atletico Madrid 1 (aet) - player ratings Iker Casillas 5 Real's captain guilty of huge misjudgement to give Atletico the lead, tried to claw it back but helpless to do so, poor mistake from a very experienced 'keeper. Had relatively little to do apart from that.
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Champions League Final: Real Madrid 4 Atletico Madrid 1 (aet) - player ratings Daniel Carvajal 6 Mistake ten minutes into second half nearly let Villa in but got away with it. Did fine in defence throughout apart from that mistake but lacked quality and thrust going forward.
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Champions League Final: Real Madrid 4 Atletico Madrid 1 (aet) - player ratings Raphael Varane 6 The 21-year-old French centre-back thrust onto the biggest stage in place of Pepe. Was capable enough at the back and had relatively little to do in the second half.
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Champions League Final: Real Madrid 4 Atletico Madrid 1 (aet) - player ratings Sergio Ramos 7 The two goal hero of the semi-final let the occasion get the better of him in the first half with frequent arguments and fouls. Needless yellow card in bust up with Raul Garcia. Played almost as an attacker in latter stages as Real pinned their opponents back and got the vital equaliser with just seconds left with his bullet header.
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Champions League Final: Real Madrid 4 Atletico Madrid 1 (aet) - player ratings Fabio Coentrao 6 Left-back did OK in what could be his last game for the club. Tireless up and down the wing and fine in the tackle. Replaced by Marcelo after fading slightly.
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Champions League Final: Real Madrid 4 Atletico Madrid 1 (aet) - player ratings Sami Khedira 4 Only played two games in the best part of seven months after back from serious knee injury and showed in lack of sharpness. The German came in for the suspended Xabi Alonso and Real really missed the Spaniard. Yellow carded for nasty foul on Villa and sacrificed after an hour for Isco as Real went for it.
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Champions League Final: Real Madrid 4 Atletico Madrid 1 (aet) - player ratings Luka Modric 6 Outplayed by Atletico's midfield for much of the contest and often bullied off the ball but provided the perfect corner kick to set up Ramos' equaliser.
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Champions League Final: Real Madrid 4 Atletico Madrid 1 (aet) - player ratings Angel Di Maria 8 Brought down by cynical and painful Garcia tackle when seemingly away and running into space and suffered similar again later by Miranda. Looked Real's main threat for large parts of the game and found space regularly. Good game from the Argentine who can be the most pleased with himself out of Real's attacking options. Topped off a great night by helping to set up the winning goal for Bale.
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Champions League Final: Real Madrid 4 Atletico Madrid 1 (aet) - player ratings Gareth Bale 6 Missed Real's best chance of the first half after stabbing his effort wide and really should have scored. Had another good chance in the second 45 but blasted wide. Then missed a third chance after running clear and again toe-poking wide. Turned around a difficult night completely by scoring the winner with a simple header at the back post.
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Champions League Final: Real Madrid 4 Atletico Madrid 1 (aet) - player ratings Cristiano Ronaldo 6 Very quiet in first half apart from free-kick which stung Courtois’ palms. Second dead ball effort deflected onto bar with real pace but found the game difficult to get into. Glanced header was a good chance wasted. But on a difficult night for the superstar, he did have the last word with a cool penalty kick to round off things perfectly for Real.
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Champions League Final: Real Madrid 4 Atletico Madrid 1 (aet) - player ratings Karim Benzema 5 The centre-forward found it hard to get into the game at times but did his best to hold up the ball when he could. No real chances at all to speak of and removed from the game for Morata to try up front.
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Champions League Final: Real Madrid 4 Atletico Madrid 1 (aet) - player ratings Marcelo 6 (Substitute) In place of Coentrao and added some pace down the wing. Threw himself at a header but cleared well. Added the third to seal victory with a powerful strike as Atletico looked defeated. Yellow card.
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Champions League Final: Real Madrid 4 Atletico Madrid 1 (aet) - player ratings Thibaut Courtois 6 Simple enough saves in the first half and held on to Ronaldo's free-kick well. Was relatively untested in the second half but had no chance at all with Ramos' header. Good save from Di Maria's effort which lead to Bale's winner and unlucky to see it fall perfectly to the Welshman. Helpless for the third and fourth goals.
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Champions League Final: Real Madrid 4 Atletico Madrid 1 (aet) - player ratings Juanfran 7 Full-back looked happy with Real's front three for first hour but had more problems as the opponents started to put on more pressure. Superb clearance as Marcelo threw himself at a header. Yellow card.
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Champions League Final: Real Madrid 4 Atletico Madrid 1 (aet) - player ratings Joao Miranda 7 A wall at the heart of Altetico's defence and looked like a true leader. Plenty of great tackles, headers and break up play through out the game. Yellow card for pulling back Di Maria but superb at the back.
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Champions League Final: Real Madrid 4 Atletico Madrid 1 (aet) - player ratings Diego Godin 8 Hero after equaliser against Barcelona which won league and carried on his unlikely goal scoring form. Broke the deadlock when his helped on header completely caught out Casillas. At the back, the Uruguayan was fantastic, putting his body on the line and winning almost every ball. Stood up to everything Real could muster and deserved to win the game inside 90 minutes and will be heartbroken to end up losing, like all of his teammates. Let his frustrations take over to concede a penalty late on.
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Champions League Final: Real Madrid 4 Atletico Madrid 1 (aet) - player ratings Filipe Luis 7 Beaten by Bale's speed on more than one occasion but that is forgivable. Did fine on the most part and taken for Alderweireld when he tired in last ten minutes.
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Champions League Final: Real Madrid 4 Atletico Madrid 1 (aet) - player ratings Tiago 6 His double mistake went unpunished when Bale shot wide in the first half but played well marshaling in front of the back four. Good passing and tackling and a solid night's work all round.
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Champions League Final: Real Madrid 4 Atletico Madrid 1 (aet) - player ratings Gabi 8 Broke up countless midfield battles and made countless tackles. A real highlight in midfield and played out Simeone's plan very well indeed. Really didn't deserve to be on the losing side like many of his teammates.
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Champions League Final: Real Madrid 4 Atletico Madrid 1 (aet) - player ratings Raul Garcia 6 Yellow card for nasty tackle on Di Maria but performed well in Atletico's midfield. Plenty of interceptions and tackles and worked hard when their backs were against it. Taken off just after the hour mark and replaced by Sosa.
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Champions League Final: Real Madrid 4 Atletico Madrid 1 (aet) - player ratings Koke 7 Big part of the Champions' midfield and player well to break up Real's threats for the most part. Yellow card.
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Champions League Final: Real Madrid 4 Atletico Madrid 1 (aet) - player ratings David Villa 6 The ageing forward has lost a yard of pace but did well in a rare start. Beat Carvajal well on the touchline but failed to find a teammate with the pull back. Yellow card.
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Champions League Final: Real Madrid 4 Atletico Madrid 1 (aet) - player ratings Diego Costa 5 Gamble to start him didn’t pay off as the Spaniard was clearly not fit enough to play. Subbed off after just nine minutes and replaced by Adrian Lopez
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Champions League Final: Real Madrid 4 Atletico Madrid 1 (aet) - player ratings Adrian Lopez 6 (Substitute) Sent on for the injured Costa after less than 10 minutes and played his part in stopping Real for most of the game.
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With Real Madrid reportedly interested in signing Luis Suarez this summer, talk of a possible exit for Di Maria is likely to resurface again this summer. However, the 26-year-old who made 46 appearances under Carlo Ancelotti last season, says he is keen to stay despite being aware Real Madrid could opt to sell him.
“I am not going to lie, I know that there are clubs that want to sign me and can match Real Madrid’s demands.”
“But that’s up to my representatives and the club. I will stay if the club wants me to stay.
“I am not thinking about my future now. We will see what Madrid have in mind, whether they want me to stay or leave.
“I am happy at Madrid. I had a great season and always had everybody’s support. But sometimes you don’t have a choice, even when you want to stay yourself.”
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