Manchester United have agreed to a British record transfer football fee of NZ$120 million to sign Argentina midfielder Angel Di Maria from Real Madrid according to British media reports.
Angel Di Maria who is set to sign a record deal with Manchester United. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
United has finally sealed a deal for Di Maria after several days of negotiations with the Spanish club.
The 26-year-old has signed a five year deal worth an estimated NZ$400,000 a week.
The deal beats the previous British record fee of NZ$100 million paid by Chelsea to sign Spain striker Fernando Torres from Liverpool in 2011.
Di Maria, a former Benfica star, has an impressive pedigree after winning the Champions League with Real last season and the Spanish title in 2012.
He was also named on FIFA's 10-man shortlist for the best player at the recent World Cup where Argentina reached the final, although he was unable to play in that game or the semi-final because of injury.
United last broke the British transfer record when they paid Leeds NZ$60 million for Rio Ferdinand in 2002 and the deal will also eclipse the club record NZ$76 million they splashed out to sign Juan Mata from Chelsea in January.
The Real manager Carlo Ancelotti revealed over the weekend that Di Maria had said goodbye to his teammates and he was absent from the Madrid squad in their latest win over Cordoba.
His arrival in Manchester would be the headline deal of United's overhaul under new manager Louis van Gaal, who has already spent a combined NZ$145 million on England left-back Luke Shaw, Spanish midfielder Ander Herrera and Di Maria's Argentina teammate Marcos Rojo.
Assuming the transfer is finalised on schedule, Di Maria could make his debut against Burnley this weekend as van Gaal looks to revitalise a United team still without a win after the first two games of the new Premier League campaign.
Italy striker Mario Balotelli says goodbye to Milan and hello to Liverpool. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Meanwhile Italy striker Mario Balotelli has completed his $32 million move to Liverpool from Serie A side AC Milan.
The 24-year-old former Manchester City player has agreed a long-term deal with the Merseyside club.
Balotelli left City 17 months ago after scoring 30 goals in three seasons.