Real Madrid legend Hugo Sanchez has claimed that Angel Di Maria is ‘irreplaceable’ and that his sale to Manchester United is hard to understand.
Both Xabi Alonso and Di Maria were sold by Madrid this summer to Bayern Munich and Man United respectively in transfers that left many fans of the European champions questioning.
Sanchez, who enjoyed a fruitful spell with Madrid between 1985 and 1992, hinted that Madrid’s debts are to blame for the sales.
“It’s very hard to tell from the outside how Di Maria and Alonso’s departures went down within the club,” he told AS. “The approach can be very contrasting for a coach than for others in more managerial roles.
“If the accounts are not balanced though, it is very difficult to spend, spend and spend without selling. If you spend you will have to sell. It is a maths game and it all depends on the management.
“I guess as a coach Ancelotti would have liked Di Maria and Xabi Alonso to stay. But above all Di Maria, because there are several players who can replace Xabi.
“Di Maria was one of the best players in the world and was helping Madrid a lot, but the accounts have to be done.
“I don’t know if it is true that Di Maria left because he didn’t feel valued, but I like good football and he was one of the best footballers in the world.”
