Football
ESPN staff 10y

Real Madrid may keep Angel Di Maria

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti has hinted there is still room at the Bernabeu for Angel Di Maria, despite the recent high-profile arrivals of James Rodriguez and Toni Kroos. 

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Di Maria, 26, was one of Real's standout players last season and was named man of the match as Ancelotti's side beat Atletico Madrid in the Champions League final to win La Decima.

However, the Argentina winger's future has been the subject of conjecture all summer, with speculation intensifying that a move to PSG is in the pipeline since the signings of James and Kroos. 

Manchester United have also shown an interest in Di Maria, but Ancelotti told a news conference: "He is a Real Madrid player. He will arrive (at training) on Aug. 5.

"With the signings of Rodriguez and Kroos there is more competition in the centre of the pitch, but that's how it is at the big clubs. Competition is energy and last season we had problems in the final part of the season."

Having guided Real to their first continental triumph in 12 years, Ancelotti is determined to help Los Blancos become the first club to retain the trophy in the Champions League era.

"We won two titles and that was very important for us. This season the squad is even more competitive and we have the desire and dream of winning titles," Ancelotti said.

"This year we will be able to do better and I'm really confident because last season we had to work a lot on forming the team and installing a style of play. We can start better than last season because we had problems initially as we didn't adapt to the playing system."

Despite Madrid making James the fourth most expensive signing in the history of the game, Ancelotti insisted that the Colombia star is more of an investment in the future, adding: "Madrid's history shows that they always want to have the best players and with the best prospects.

"These type of players are needed for the future, not only the present."

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