Manchester United Transfer News: Angel Di Maria Dashes Cristiano Ronaldo Rumours

Manchester United's Angel di Maria has poured cold water on the prospect of ever being reunited with his former Real Madrid teammate Cristiano Ronaldo at Old Trafford despite long-term rumours that the Portuguese may be set for a Red Devils return.

The Argentine star swapped the Bernabeu for Old Trafford in the summer after starring in Lisbon as Real won the Champions League final, with Di Maria moving to United for £59.7 million.

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Ronaldo indicated his unhappiness at the transfer, and rumours earlier in the 2014-15 season suggested he may eventually move back to United, per Riath Al-Samarrai in the Daily Mail. But Di Maria believes this is highly unlikely, per Radio America (h/t 101 Great Goals):

"

I don’t think he [Cristiano Ronaldo] is coming back to Manchester. It’s hard to quit Real Madrid. Maybe, but I think he’s having a great time and I don’t see that he wants to change.

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It would seem an odd move for Ronaldo to move away from the Champions League winning, La Liga topping Real to an improving, but still vastly inconsistent United.

Equally, as his individual records continue to rack up—he is more than half way to beating Lionel Messi's La Liga season milestone of 50 goals, having scored 26, per WhoScored.com—a move back to the Premier League would arguably make things harder for the 29-year-old in his stated pursuit to be regarded as the world's best ever player, per Sky Sports.

However, Ronaldo's agent—and Di Maria's, for that matter—Jorge Mendes has indicated that the Portugal skipper may not end his playing career at Real, with MLS potentially an option later in his playing days, per Telefoot (h/t ESPN FC): "He will finish his career at Real Madrid, and after that, perhaps he will go to the United States. Only God knows what will happen."

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As with Steven Gerrard, who has recently announced his plan to finish his career in the U.S., Ronaldo would be able to prolong his career by playing in the lower intensity of MLS while also being well-remunerated, but it seems he will see out the peak of his career at the Bernabeu, as Di Maria suggests.  

Di Maria was effectively forced out of Real after Los Blancos signed James Rodriguez in the summer despite the former Benfica man having shined in the 2013-14 season.

He outshone his more auspicious colleagues in Lisbon in May, per The Telegraph's Paul Hayward, and started well at Old Trafford before picking up an injury:

Di Maria's scoring return off the bench against Yeovil in The FA Cup on Sunday will no doubt have come as a huge boost to United bosses, players and fans alike.

While Ronaldo is unlikely to return to Old Trafford anytime soon, Di Maria has the quality to provide a similar level of performance when he returns to full fitness.

The 26-year-old was full of praise for his club skipper Wayne Rooney as well, per Radio America (h/t 101 Great Goals), describing him as a "quality player" with an unmatched "desire to play every game."

Rooney managed to form a scintillating partnership with Ronaldo before the latter departed for Real for £80 million in 2009. No doubt he can do the same with Di Maria in the years to come.