Angel Di Maria fails to make flight to join Manchester United on tour

Posted Sunday, July 26, 2015 by theguardian.com

• No-show throws further doubt on Argentinian’s future at Old Trafford
• Reports in France suggest 27-year-old is set to join Paris Saint-Germain

Angel Di Maria's name may have been on the passenger list, but he failed to board the flight taking him to join his Manchester United team-mates

Angel Di Maria failed to take his seat on a plane to join Manchester United’s pre-season tour of the United States, throwing further doubt on his future at the club, with the forward potentially on the verge of a move to Paris Saint-Germain.

Di Maria was expected to join United’s tour party in San Jose along with Marcos Rojo; the two Argentinians had been resting following their participation in the Copa América.

While, according to Louis van Gaal, Rojo was not on the flight because of an issue with his travel documents, the manager was unsure why Di Maria had failed to board the plane. "Di Maria and Rojo are not on the plane. He [Rojo] has passport issues, but for Di Maria, I don’t know why."

"[Javier] Hernández is here," added Van Gaal of the Mexican who was injured during the Gold Cup.

Reports in France have claimed Di María will undergo a medical in New York on Monday. What seems clear is that the player who cost £57.9m 12 months ago is unlikely to remain at United when the transfer window closes.

PSG coach Laurent Blanc said: “There is a good possibility [he could sign] but there is nothing official. There is an anticipation he is going to come to the US but as to which jersey he is going to wear, we don’t know yet.

"If he does make a change hopefully it will be for Paris Saint-Germain. Right now we have to wait because there are two big clubs out there in discussion.

"Of course PSG is out looking in terms of recruiting an offensive player, whether it is Di Maria or somebody else. Of course a coach would like to see somebody like him but there is nothing official at this moment."

David de Gea is another United player whose future is in the balance. Van Gaal said of the Real Madrid target: "Of course, I do hope that De Gea will stay, but in this world of football, you never know."