Angel di Maria: 'Real Madrid wanted me to miss World Cup final'

Manchester United winger Angel di Maria has claimed that Real Madrid tried to stop him from playing in the World Cup final final in July.

The Argentina international missed the final against Germany after picking up a thigh strain, and the 26-year-old stated that his former club didn't want him to take part in the game in Brazil.

However, the former Benfica youngster said that he was annoyed by his club's stance and ignored their pleas before eventually succumbing to injury.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, Di Maria said: "The [Argentina] doctor came in and gave me a note, it was from Real Madrid saying that I couldn't play. To be honest, I didn't read it, I didn't even want to open it, so I tore it up and threw it away.

"Any footballer knows what a World Cup final means and how you must feel. Whoever sent that letter wasn't a footballer."

Di Maria moved to United in August for a British record fee of around £60m.