Angel Di Maria admits he's unhappy with life at Manchester United because he doesn't know why Louis van Gaal doesn't pick him

Di Maria has been left on the bench this year with Ashley Young and Juan Mata preferred

Angel Di Maria during an Argentina training session (Getty Images)

Angel Di Maria has admitted he does not know why he is being kept on the bench my Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal, and admitted his frustration at not playing as much first-team action as he would like.

The Argentinian winger is currently on international duty at the Copa America in Chile, where his side take on Colombia on Friday for a place in the semi-finals. But despite starting all three of their Group B games, Di Maria was used sparingly in the second half of the Premier League season, with Juan Mata and Ashley Young preferred by Van Gaal.

Di Maria made a solid start to life at Old Trafford following his £59.7m switch from Real Madrid last summer after excelling at the 2014 World Cup, and his skillful finish against Leicester suggested that good things would come from the British record transfer.

However, Di Maria suffered a few niggling injuries and a drop in form, while off the field he suffered a burglary at his Cheshire home that clearly unsettled him.

Di Maria gestures during a game for United (Getty Images)

Speaking in an interview with Argentinian newspaper Ole, Di Maria admitted his unsettled start to life in the Premier League has affected him.

“Yes. For me, and my family,” said Di Maria. “Because not everything goes as I want, because I don’t play. Because I came with an intention and end up on the bench. It’s hard to tell how I feel there.”

He added: “I started well, with goals and assists. I was having a good time, until I was out. It’s a little hard to explain why I do not play.”

However, despite reports on Wednesday suggesting Barcelona have “made contact” with United regarding the availability of Di Maria, he insists that he is focused on the job at hand and will remain with the Manchester club for next season.

Asked if he was thinking of leaving, Di Maria said: “No, because I’m not thinking like that. In Madrid there were times when I was whistled around the stadium but faced it and then it turned around. I like to deal with things.”