The Van Gaal Fallout: A Toxic Relationship
While Angel Di Maria arrived at Manchester United with huge fanfare, initially shining with goals and assists against Queens Park Rangers, Leicester City, and Everton, his form soon plummeted. He ended his 32 appearances with just 4 goals and 11 assists, a far cry from expectations.
Di Maria himself described his relationship with Van Gaal as strained, claiming the coach fixated on his errors rather than acknowledging his attacking contributions. "We were winning, I was making assists and scoring, but he didn’t mention that," Di Maria recalled. "He only ever wanted to talk about the mistakes."
Former United teammate Ander Herrera corroborated this account, stating that Van Gaal was "way stricter" with him compared to others. "It reached a point where things just got out of hand," Herrera explained, believing the constant scrutiny "ended up undermining Angel’s confidence."
Beyond the Pitch: Home Invasion & Family Unrest
Adding to the professional struggles, Di Maria and his family endured a terrifying home invasion by thieves while they were present. This traumatic event undoubtedly contributed to their unhappiness in England.
His wife, **Jorgelina Cardoso**, also revealed her profound disdain for life in Manchester, labeling it a "sh*thole." She admitted she never wanted to move there, having formed a strong negative opinion after a prior visit to see **Sergio Agüero**.
Cardoso described the cultural shock: "You’re walking down the street and you don’t know if they’re going to kill you or what. All the girls are all dolled up... and there’s me with my hair in a bun and with no make-up on."
