French press lays into Di María: "A shadow of the player he was"

Le Parisien and France Football both published pieces on the Argentina international, claiming he has been in woeful form this season.

25/10/2016 13:04

French press lays into Di María: "A shadow of the player he was" — FRANCK FIFE AFP

Ángel di María’s loss of form at Paris Saint-Germain has been the source of plenty of column inches in France. The latest dailies to weight into the mystery of where Di María left his footballing guile are Le Parisien and France Football, with the latter noting the Argentinean “is a shadow of the player who guided Real Madrid to the Champions League title in 2014.”

"Di María is unrecognizable"

“We expected more from him. Perhaps too much,” said France Football. “Di María is unrecognizable a year after his arrival,” added Le Parisien.

Zlatan departure

Di María, Ibrahimovic, PSG. — Di María e Ibrahimovic. JEAN-PAUL PELISSIER (REUTERS)

Both papers forward the theory that Di María is suffering as a result of the departure of Zlatan Ibrahimovic: “His obvious understanding with Ibrahimovic has turned into incomprehension and a shocking lack of affinity with his partners in attack, Lucas and Cavani,” said Le Parisien.

Di María loses possession with a third of his touches

The statistics do not help the Argentinean’s cause: “The former Real Madrid player has not found his way to the opposition goal [in Ligue 1] since April 23… an eternity,” noted France Football. “Against Marseille he lost the ball 29 times, which is becoming a habit this season during which a third of his touches end up in the opposition gaining possession.”

PSG