Angel Di Maria’s “free-spirited” playing style was never going to fit into Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal’s plans, according to Premier League legend Thierry Henry.
Argentine forward Di Maria sealed his long-awaited move to Paris Saint-Germain on Thursday, just 12 months after joining the Red Devils for a British record £59.7million fee.
The former Real Madrid man struggled to cement his place in the United team, with Ashley Young thriving in the second half of the season, and he was allowed to leave Old Trafford for the French champions in a deal thought to be around £45m.
United are reportedly targeting a late move for Barcelona forward Pedro as his replacement, and former Barca team-mate Henry believes the Spaniard has what it takes to properly integrate into Van Gaal’s system.
“Louis van Gaal demands his teams to play a certain way,” the former striker told Drivetime.
“It’s very demanding and well structured. If you’re a winger you have to stay wide, you can’t come in, you have to stay there.
“I know that exactly, because at Barcelona it was the same way, the Dutch way and the Barca way are very similar.
“From what I understand, that’s why it was difficult for Di Maria to adapt, because he’s a free spirit.
“You have to let him play and that’s how it was for him at Real Madrid; sometimes he played behind the striker, sometimes on the left or on the right, and sometimes he didn’t come back.
“You can’t do that at Manchester United, it’s too well structured.
“At one point last season, they didn’t gel, so Van Gaal did something to make sure they were going to get results until the end of the season - they were more direct.
“That’s why he went on to buy players this summer that can suit the way he wants to play - that’s why he wants Pedro.
“Pedro knows those tactics, he can do what Van Gaal wants. I’ve seen him at Barcelona, he was putting pressure on and staying out wide - he has it.
"It’s the same with [summer signing Bastian] Schweinsteiger - Van Gaal knows that if he asks Schweinsteiger to do something, he’ll do it.”
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