Flashback: Angel Di Maria signs for Manchester United in record £60million British transfer deal

Argentina international Di Maria signed a five-year contract and was handed the number seven shirt previously worn by club greats George Best, Bryan Robson, Eric Cantona, David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo.

The substantial fee eclipsed the £50m Chelsea paid Liverpool for striker Fernando Torres in 2011.

Di Maria also became the sixth most expensive player in the world, topped only by Real Madrid signings Gareth Bale, Portuguese Ronaldo and James Rodriguez and Barcelona pair Luis Suarez and Neymar.

He arrived at Old Trafford on the back of helping his country reach the World Cup final in Brazil, where they were narrowly beaten by Germany after extra-time, and a man-of-the-match performance in Real’s Champions League final win over city rivals Atletico Madrid.

Big-spending United boss Louis van Gaal also brought in Luke Shaw, Ander Herrera, Radamel Falaco, Marcos Rojo and Daley Blind that summer.

The experienced Dutchman – who had recently been appointed following the unsuccessful reign of Sir Alex Ferguson’s successor David Moyes – described Di Maria as “world class”.

Yet the high-profile signing struggled to live up to that billing during an underwhelming single-season stay in the Premier League.

He made an encouraging start – scoring three times in his first five top-flight outings – but then failed to register again in his final 22 league appearances as United finished fourth.

In his defence, the player did supply 10 Premier League assists and was far from being the only Van Gaal signing to disappoint.

Wayne Rooney recently suggested family circumstances and the burgling of Di Maria’s Cheshire home were major factors in his former team-mate’s failure to adapt.

United took a hit of around £15m on Di Maria when he was sold to Paris St Germain for £44.3m in August 2015.