Ange Di Maria has been the most talked about footballer for the past couple of days, due to his bank breaking move to Manchester United. The English giants forked out a whooping £60 million for the Argentine's services which has sent shock waves to all corners of the footballing world.
But only a few people will argue that he doesn't deserve every pound of that money after the spectacular season he had last term. To crown it all, Sir Alex Ferguson gave the 26 year old his man-of-the-match award at the end of last season’s Champions League final after 120 minutes of incredible football.
While others might say he's been overpriced as you don't judge a footballer just by one glorious season. A season that was inspired by the inglorious birth of his daughter Mia.
A year before that extra-time run and assist for Gareth Bale to score the decisive goal in a 4-1 victory over Atletico Madrid, Di Maria’s wife Jorgelina Cardoso had suffered pregnancy complications and doctors had given the couple’s baby a 30 per cent chance of survival if the birth was not induced.
Mia was born three months premature on April 22, 2013, the night before Real Madrid faced Borussia Dortmund in a Champions League semi-final.
Di Maria missed the game to be with his wife and the couple agonised for the next two months as their daughter stayed in intensive care before finally being allowed to go home.
With Mia safe and sound Di Maria was able to turn his full attention back to playing football but Real Madrid had signed Bale in his place and he appeared to be facing up to a season on the bench.
‘My daughter taught me that everything that appears to be really difficult can end up being easy if you put the effort in and wait for the rewards,’ he said. ‘She transmitted so much energy to me and it helped me to have the spectacular year that I had.’
Di Maria was the top goal provider in the Spanish league last season with 22 assists, he scored in the Copa del Rey triumph over Barcelona and outplayed everyone in Lisbon as Real lifted the Champions League trophy.
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