After he orchestrated Manchester United’s 4-0 win over QPR yesterday, Ángel Di María was joined by his socio, Juan Mata, for a post-game interview with Geoff Shreeves (it’s a little way down the page here).
Di María was asked about the free-kick with which he opened the scoring, one of those that appears to be a cross, but is aimed at the bottom corner of the goal. Mata translated his answer – ‘I’ve been practising them in training’ – with an arch-villain grin. He has already seen what’s coming from his new team-mate – like the kind of rapier assist pass from which Mata completed the scoring.
This was a player just back from international duty, and one who has yet to fully assimilate at his new club. But Mata and the rest of the United players already see him as a catalyst. A player who may not always deliver the kind of man-of-the-match individual performance he put in last night, but who will raise their collective game, and one capable of game-changing moments.
As I wrote here for Paddy Power when he joined – Di María is a great fit for United.
Finally, here’s a clip from BBC Five Live from the time United were closing in on the deal. As I say here: I’m sad he left La Liga.