Manchester United: On Angel Di Maria and Risk of Breaking the Bank for Talent

For much of his first EPL season, the disappointing form of Angel Di Maria has been looked at as a normality and backed up by excuses.

He's adjusting to life in a new country and league.

Louis van Gaal is playing him out of position.

He's not the only one playing poorly.

Di Maria, despite showing occasional flashes of his ability, has struggled to consistently perform up to standards in his first season, with United fans perpetually waiting for him to break out of his slump.

However, with the Argentinian being removed in the 45th and 59th minutes of his last two matches, his career as a United player has reached a new nadir.

Against Sunderland and Newcastle, Di Maria had a total of three key passes, which is nothing to write home about, but nothing to set alarm bells ringing either. Those stats don't tell the full story, however, as Di Maria was woeful in both of these games. 

He completed a dreadful 69.6 and 63.6 percent of his passes, with the only United player to "best" him in these two games being goalkeeper David De Gea against Sunderland.

The ex-Real Madrid man has shown his talent at times this season, but he often chooses to try the low-percentage perfect assist instead of simply moving the ball to his teammates.

Even the shocking nature of Di Maria's performances in his last two matches can be looked past if you try hard enough. He is playing awfully at the moment, but he is a footballer with a great pedigree, and that means his form will have to pick up sooner or later.

The true reason that these two matches are a massive low point for Di Maria lies in Van Gaal's decision to remove him extremely early twice.

An early removal of a player during a match (assuming they're not injured) indicates that the player is performing poorly, but it also reflects a lack of belief on the manager's part that said player will be able to figure it out.

The fact that Van Gaal has lost belief in Di Maria two matches in a row is scary, and it raises the thought of whether Di Maria will ever truly live up to his price tag in the EPL.

Scott Heppell/Associated Press

Being replaced by the 20-year-old Adnan Januzaj added to Di Maria's humiliation, and it has certainly come to a point where it's appropriate to question the £59.7 million fee that was paid for him.

Di Maria has a respectable eight assists in the EPL, but just two since November, and his goal against Yeovil in the FA Cup is the only one he has scored in over two months.

The Argentinian is not having an awful season. Eight assists is a respectable amount, and he is shockingly only behind Cesc Fabregas in this category .

But is Di Maria's current season worth the astronomical fee United paid for him?

Absolutely not.

Jason Puncheon is level on goals with Di Maria and has one fewer assist. He was bought by Crystal Palace last winter for less than £2 million.

Gylfi Sigurdsson has more goals than United's Argentinian, and also has eight assists. Swansea paid a far more modest £7 million for his services over the summer.

It would be ridiculous to say United should have signed Sigurdsson or Puncheon instead of Di Maria, but it wouldn't be unfair to say the Red Devils should be smarter with their money.

Is it better to buy low on an up-and-coming prospect or diamond in the rough, or break the bank on a superstar with massive expectations?

United would probably answer with the second option, and truthfully, the best players are the most expensive for a reason. The Red Devils have the money to buy great players, so why not maximize that?

At the same time, they paid an astronomical fee, and are currently paying huge wages, for a player who has been about as effective as Jason Puncheon.

Tim Ireland/Associated Press

No matter how much money you have to blow, that is simply not good business.

There is still time for Di Maria to come good at United, but his struggles have indicated that perhaps it is time for the culture to change at Old Trafford.

Development over dowries.

Stats and info from WhoScored.com and Transfermarkt.