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Manchester United could lose out in their chase for Angel di Maria, with the Argentina and Real Madrid winger closing in on a move to Paris Saint-Germain.
According to Spanish newspaper AS , Real president met with PSG's president Nasser Al-Khelaifi in Madrid on Friday to discuss a potential €60m (£47.7m) move.
The 26-year-old enjoyed an excellent season for Los Blancos, scoring 11 goals and adding 26 assists as Carlo Ancelotti's team won the Copa del Rey and the Champions League.
But Di Maria could be the man to make way as Real chase a blockbuster deal for James Rodriguez, who lit up the World Cup with six goals and two assists.
The fee received will likely be put towards Rodriguez, who could costs as much as €80m.
Show all 10 1 /10World Cup 2014 - Fifa Golden Ball shortlist World Cup 2014 - Fifa Golden Ball shortlist Angel Di Maria (Argentina) The Argentinian wing has endless levels of energy that compliments Argentina’s never-say-die attitude, and the South Americans can thank the Real Madrid winger for helping them conquer Switzerland in the second round when the tie looked for all certainty to be heading to penalties. Missed the semi-final through injury, which could have scuppered any chance of winning the award.
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World Cup 2014 - Fifa Golden Ball shortlist Mats Hummels (Germany) Germany’s most reliable defender in a back-four that sometimes appears unstable to say the least, but his prowess in front of goal has seen him included on the shortlist. Scored in the comfortable 4-0 win over Portugal, but it was Hummels’ match-winning header against France that stands out as his defining moment, outmuscling Mamadou Sakho to score early on in the quarter-final.
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World Cup 2014 - Fifa Golden Ball shortlist Toni Kroos (Germany) Kroos has been the driving force behind the famed German attack, and has arguably been their most influential player throughout the tournament. Chipped in with two goals in the 7-1 demolition of Brazil, but leads the way in assists with two against Portugal, the cross for Hummels’ header against France and one against Brazil.
World Cup 2014 - Fifa Golden Ball shortlist Philipp Lahm (Germany) Joachim Loew went against his word to switch Lahm back to his natural right-back berth, but the move has been a masterstroke as Germany kept a clean sheet against France and conceded a late consolation against Brazil when they were seven goals up. The German captain has led by example, and is the model of consistency as he rarely ever makes a mistake that costs his side.
World Cup 2014 - Fifa Golden Ball shortlist Javier Mascherano (Argentina) Regularly deployed as a centre-back for Barcelona, Mascherano has flourished in the defensive midfield role that he used to grace, and offered a solid protection in front of the back-four. His commitment to this competition is unquestionable, and can be summed up by his match-saving block on Arjen Robben’s shot, when by his own admission he “tore his anus” in diving to block the ball. “The pain…it was terrible,” he unsurprisingly added. Heroic nonetheless.
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World Cup 2014 - Fifa Golden Ball shortlist Lionel Messi (Argentina) Regularly deployed as a centre-back for Barcelona, Mascherano has flourished in the defensive midfield role that he used to grace, and offered a solid protection in front of the back-four. His commitment to this competition is unquestionable, and can be summed up by his match-saving block on Arjen Robben’s shot, when by his own admission he “tore his anus” in diving to block the ball. “The pain…it was terrible,” he unsurprisingly added. Heroic nonetheless.
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World Cup 2014 - Fifa Golden Ball shortlist Thomas Müller (Germany) Muller will have his eyes on the Golden Boot as well as the Golden Ball, as he trails top scorer James Rodriguez by a single goal heading into Sunday’s final. While he may not be the most gifted footballer in the world, he sure knows how to put the ball in the back of the net, identified by his brilliant hat-trick in the win over Portugal and his further efforts against the United States and Brazil. His ability to float between an attacking midfielder and a striker poses the opposition serious questions about picking him up, and he’s certainly taken his chances in Brazil (just don’t mention that free-kick fail).
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World Cup 2014 - Fifa Golden Ball shortlist Neymar (Brazil) The poster boy of the World Cup saw his participation curtailed early after he suffered a fractured vertebra, but his influence on Brazil’s first five games illuminated the nation with the belief that they would win the tournament. His four goals early on put him in the hunt for the Golden Boot, and his absence in Brazil’s humiliating defeats in the semi-finals and third-place play-off have actually done him a favour in his hope of taking the award.
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World Cup 2014 - Fifa Golden Ball shortlist Arjen Robben (Netherlands) His pace tore apart defending world champions Spain in the opening 5-1 victory, and he was instrumental in Louis van Gaal’s plans to hit teams on the counter attack. He netted the opener in the dramatic 3-2 win over Australia, but it was his tendency to go down easily – he admitted that he dived against Mexico – that infuriated other sides. Ran out of gas when it came to the latter stages, but still tormented the Brazilians on Saturday night, as he won a penalty within the first three minutes after ghosting past Thiago Silva.
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World Cup 2014 - Fifa Golden Ball shortlist James Rodriguez (Colombia) The breakthrough star of the tournament – if a 45m euros signing can be a breakthrough, that is. Rodriguez proved to be a revelation in Brazil, as he became the first Colombian to score in each of their group stage matches. Not content with that, he scored both goals in the 2-0 win over Uruguay, and a late consolation against Brazil in the quarter-final exit. His performances in the absence of talisman Radamel Falcao have been outstanding, prompting talk of a move to Real Madrid or Manchester United, and he is a solid outside bet for the Golden Ball award, yet he could still seal the Golden Boot providing Thomas Müller doesn’t score in the final.
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Despite United's interest in Di Maria, AS state that he would prefer a move to the French capital. Di Maria is also believed to want Champions League football next season, which United will not be able to offer after they finished seventh last season.
Di Maria is a doubt to make an appearance in tonight's World Cup final against Germany.
Louis van Gaal will begin his reign of Manchester United next week after leading the Netherlands to third place. United have already signed Ander Herrera and Luke Shaw this summer, and are chasing several other players, including Juventus midfielder Arturo Vidal.
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