Real Madrid president Florentino Perez claims Angel Di Maria snubbed the offer of a huge pay rise to leave for Manchester United.
Di Maria was critical of the Bernabeu hierarchy when he left the club, saying he was disappointed not to have been offered a “gesture” – widely interpreted as a new contract – for his excellent performances last season.
But Perez rubbished those claims, saying Los Blancos worked hard to keep Di Maria, suggesting he was offered a new deal which would have made him the second highest paid player at the club. Perez said: “He had financial aspirations that Real Madrid would not meet.
“If I had accepted them, it would have undermined the stability of the club. We made a competitive offer which he decided not to accept. Nobody here earns these quantities apart from Cristiano Ronaldo.
“I’m happy that Di Maria has found another team and we’re happy for the amount received for his transfer.”
Perez also defended Ronaldo in the wake of his comments that he would have not allowed both Xabi Alonso and Di Maria to leave during the summer transfer window. “There is no quarrel with Cristiano,” insisted Perez. “I know him very well and his loyalty to Real Madrid is unquestionable.
“I’ve listened to the full interview and since I know him, I know he wasn’t undermining the club. We have a fantastic relationship.”
The outspoken Perez, who has overseen Madrid’s famous ‘Galactico’ transfer policy since first being elected president in 2000, also claimed the decision not to sign striker Radamel Falcao was down to coach Carlo Ancelotti.
It has been alleged that Los Blancos turned their back on a deal to sign the Colombian striker from Monaco as retribution towards his agent Jorge Mendes following the club’s unhappiness at the departing comments made by Di Maria, another Mendes client.
But Perez denied those claims, saying: “We reviewed the situation with Ancelotti and made a decision not to pursue signing the player.”