Agencies
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed that midfielder Angel di Maria has asked to leave the European champions before the end of the transfer window.
The 26-year-old Argentine – who missed the World Cup final defeat by Germany because of injury – was a star performer as Real claimed their 10th European crown last season, but has fallen down the pecking order at the Santiago Bernabeu due to the arrivals of James Rodriguez and Toni Kroos.
Premier League giants Manchester United and French champions Paris Saint-Germain are reportedly interested in signing him.
“I am surprised to read that there is a disagreement between myself and the club,” Ancelotti said on Thursday.
“There is no disagreement and we both think the same way. The situation is clear. The player asked to leave in the summer and rejected an offer from the club.
“Therefore we have tried to look for other players. It is a situation that the player himself has to resolve.
“If he doesn’t find a solution for his future, then, come the end of the market, we will make up and he will work for us like he did last season. There won’t be any problem.”
Ancelotti also hinted that World Cup winner Sami Khedira could also be set to leave the Spanish capital in the coming weeks.
The German midfielder, who missed the 1-0 win over Argentina because of an injury he suffered warming-up for the final, has been linked with a return to his homeland with Bayern Munich and has rejected an offer of a new contract, with his current deal set to expire in 2015.
“Khedira’s situation is different because he has just a year left on his contract and has rejected a new one. We will see what happens, but his situation is different because he has not asked to leave.”
Real also received a boost on Thursday ahead of the second leg of the Supercopa de Espana (Spanish Super Cup) away to Atletico Madrid on Friday as Cristiano Ronaldo returned to training.
The World Player of the Year had to be withdrawn at half-time in Tuesday’s first leg, which finished 1-1, due to a hamstring injury.
However, Ancelotti confirmed he will be fit and available for selection at the Vicente Calderon as Real aim to win already their second trophy of the season after claiming the Uefa Super Cup with a 2-0 win over Sevilla last week.
“He is available to play and will be able to start the game. All the players are ready but that doesn’t mean I won’t make changes,” Ancelotti told a news conference in Madrid.
There were initial fears that Ronaldo had suffered a recurrence of the knee injury that he suffered at the back end of last season and carried into the World Cup but that was quickly played down.
Real have set their sights on winning all six trophies on offer this season having won the Super Cup against Sevilla, but they were lacklustre against Atletico and the draw has put their city rivals in the driving seat.
“We are used to playing against Atletico and they are used to facing us. I don’t think the style of game will be different, they now have the advantage from their positive result at the Bernabeu but I think it will be the same type of match,” said Ancelotti.
“We need to defend, counter attack well and take advantage of free-kicks.”
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