Angel Di Maria: Manchester United's £60m signing says that he never wanted to leave Real Madrid

The winger has written an open to letter to Real supporters

Angel Di Maria poses with Louis van Gaal after signing for Manchester United (Getty Images)

Manchester United fans looking for some cheering up this morning after the 4-0 drubbing by third tier MK Dons last night look away now.

Their new star signing, Angel Di Maria, who joined the club for a British record £60m before the match yesterday evening, has said in an open letter to Real Madrid supporters that he never wanted to leave the Spanish giants, and it was "unfortunate" that he has.

In an open letter to Real fans, Di Maria wrote: "My cycle at Real Madrid has come to an end. It's impossible to capture everything I've experienced here in a few lines but I hope this letter communicates what I feel at the moment. I had the honour to wear this shirt for four years and I feel nothing but pride for what I went through and achieved with my team-mates.

"Unfortunately, I have to go but I want to make clear that this was never my desire. Like anyone who works, I've always wanted to progress. After winning La Decima [Real's 10th Champions League title] I went to the World Cup with the hope of receiving a gesture from the board, which never arrived. Many things and many lies were told. Someone may not like me. The only thing I asked for was something fair. There are many things that I value and many of them have nothing to do with my salary. I hope to find them at Manchester United, one of the biggest clubs in the world. I've been lucky to play in a team with fantastic players, who have been even better friends. I think that was the key to La Decima.

"I want to apologise for my mistakes, on and off the pitch. It was never my intention to hurt anyone. I sweated in every game I played in the [Madrid] shirt as if it were the last."

Hopefully Di Maria gets over his heartache leaving Madrid in time for his expected United debut on Saturday, when Louis van Gaal's side travel to newly-promoted Burnley.