Manchester United

Louis van Gaal: 'We cannot expect Angel di Maria to be the miracle'

By Danielle Joynson, Staff Reporter | 28 August 2014

Louis van Gaal insists that Angel di Maria cannot be expected to be the "miracle" for Manchester United following his arrival from Manchester United.

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has played down expectations surrounding new signing Angel di Maria by insisting that he will not perform a "miracle".

The Argentina international completed his move to Old Trafford from Real Madrid on Tuesday for a British record fee of £59.7m.

United fell from champions to seventh last season following the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson, and while the arrival of Di Maria has boosted the team, Van Gaal has claimed that the winger alone cannot turn the club's fortunes around.

"I hope he shall give us good results, but we cannot expect after two days training that he is the miracle," Van Gaal said during the 26-year-old's unveiling.

"I only buy players that can improve our philosophy. I have spoken already about his way of playing in the interests of the team that I like and he can accelerate our play and our style."

Di Maria is United's fourth signing of the summer so far following the acquisition of Ander Herrera, Luke Shaw and Marcos Rojo.