Angel Di Maria has revealed there was a chance he could have joined Barcelona in the summer after Paris Saint-Germain signed Neymar and Kylian Mbappe.
PSG outlaid more than £350m to sign Neymar and Mbappe, which led to suggestions Di Maria would be one of the players to make way for their arrival.
The Argentina international was tipped as a potential replacement for Neymar at Barcelona and the 29-year-old has hinted he was open to the switch even though he spent four years at Real Madrid.
“I was close and at the same time very far from reaching a deal with Barca,” Di Maria told ESPN. “I never lost hope over the chance. I was calm about it but it never happened.
“For sure, life takes many twists and turns and one never knows what the future might hold.
“I always say the same thing. The players from Real will laugh at me but I am a fan of [Rosario] Central and that is why I could never play for Newell’s [Old Boys].
“So, I tell the fans of Central to keep up their hope for me – I have always wanted to retire there. But as for any other club, I have always said that I will give my all for team I am playing for.”
Di Maria has only started six Ligue 1 matches for PSG this season and game time will continue to be limited with Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Edinson Cavani ahead of the PSG No.11 in the pecking order.
In the last three Ligue 1 campaigns, Di Maria has registered at least eight more assists than any other player (28).
