Di Maria: Why he needs to stay and fight to become a United legend

As last season disintegrated into an anti-climax there was one story in United's season that stood out as the most tragic and confusing of all - that of Angel Di Maria and his inability to transform a tired looking United side as so many people had hoped.

Two months prior to joining United in August 2014 he was starring in Real Madrid's Champions League triumph, right before helping lead Argentina to their first World Cup final since 1990. He was the man everyone wanted in their team: a bona fide superstar and a world beater. And he was a United player.

At a British record fee of £59.7 million Real Madrid certainly got the money they felt his talent warranted. Yet United fans were more excited for the season ahead, wondering expectantly as to what he would be able to add to the team that finished a pathetic 7th in the league the previous season rather than worry too much about his phenomenal price tag. And when you heard the mighty Ronaldo speak out in anger at Real's decision to let him go, it was confirmation that we had someone special on our hands.

It all started so well for Angel - his stunning goal in the Leicester City defeat last September gave United fans everywhere goosebumps - yet he seemed to falter and almost give up at the midway stage of the season. And after his sending off in the FA Cup against Arsenal in March, he lost his place (convincingly) to a revived Ashley Young and didn't start another game until the last day of the season, by which point fourth spot was secured and we had nothing left to play for. He scored only four goals in 24 starts - his final goal of the season coming on the 8th January.

Yet after all the disappointment of his first season at United, one that was filled with so much hope and promise, It was hard to just sit back and dismiss him as a flop, and nothing could prevent me from looking forward to his second season - especially as the summer signings began to stack up.

With a beefed-up midfield, thanks to the acquisition of Schneiderlin and the vastly experienced Schweinsteiger, I was excited to see a new, revitalised Di Maria starring for United next term; one who was able to thrive in the way he did at Real when paired with excellent footballers. However instead of waiting to see if van Gaal could recapture the form that made United want to spend nearly £60 million on him, the more likely situation is that he will be leaving this summer for PSG.

From getting hold of one of world football's best players and spending the sort of money that let the world know we were deadly serious about getting back to the top...to selling him only a year later, making a £10 million+ loss and, as has been the case since Di Maria's former teammate Ronaldo left in 2009, expecting to build a winning team that is devoid of a star player.

If we are to have any serious hopes of progressing under van Gaal, Di Maria is exactly the sort of player we need - a winner, and someone who combines flair with pace, along with the ability to inject a much-needed urgency to our game.

His fall from grace last season left the whole world in shock - with BBC recently dedicating an entire article on analysing why it went so wrong for Di Maria - however is it really worth losing him so easily and giving up on him so soon? Isn't form supposed to be temporary and class permanent? A cliched football saying however one that has been applied to many a United legend in the past - van Gaal only needs to look at his right-hand man, Ryan Giggs, who may not have made it to 963 appearances and 13 Premier League winner's medals had Sir Alex decided to cash in during his slump in form in the early 2000's.

Yet unfortunately, as he looks set to leave United for Paris, the manager seems to have given up on the idea of building a side around him and creating a potential United legend, instead deciding to play it safe and recover a large chunk of the money that was spent on him a year ago.

But monetary figures aside - what will be the real cost of selling Di Maria? Will we be able to make a return to the top of the league without him? And will future superstars across the continent now see Di Maria's time at United as a warning of how United can ruin careers instead of make them? One thing I certainly can't help thinking - another cliched term yet one that sums up Di Maria's short-lived time in England: United seem to be making one step forward, and two steps back.