Di Maria: Ronaldo a big influence on my move to Manchester United

The Argentina international joined the Red Devils in a British-record €75 million move in the summer and says the Portugal international helped to convince him to go

Angel Di Maria says that Cristiano Ronaldo convinced him to join Manchester United from Real Madrid in the summer.

United spent a British-record €75 million to acquire the Argentina international, with his move bringing an end to a successful four years at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The winger has now revealed that Ronaldo had a huge say in his decision to move to Old Trafford, with the Portugal international having won the Ballon d'Or during his own spell at the club.

"Before we knew I was coming to Manchester, he told me it's a massive club, I would be very happy here and it would be good for me," Di Maria told United's official website when asked about Ronaldo's influence.

"At that time we didn't know for sure that I was coming or not so we didn't go into great detail but what he did say helped me greatly to make my decision."

Ronaldo wore the iconic No.7 shirt at Old Trafford and Di Maria has subsequently been afforded the same privilege, with the 26-year-old expressing his pride at being assigned the number.

"It is a source of motivation," he said. "When you wear a shirt that's been worn by the likes of David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo, it's something you're always going to be pleased about.

"The fact that the club have chosen to give me that shirt number also gives me a huge confidence boost so that's why I'm very happy to have this number."

Louis van Gaal oversaw a complete revamp of the United squad in the summer, with the likes of Radamel Falcao, Daley Blind, Luke Shaw and Ander Herrera all joining the club and Di Maria gets on "very well" with the Dutch manager, who has overseen three wins from his opening seven Premier League games in charge.

"We get on very well; he was one of the reasons I came here," explained the Argentina star. "I'm very grateful to him because he wanted to sign me. That makes me happy.

"Also, he's a person who wants to win all the time and to take the club back into the Champions League as quickly as possible, so the focus is very much on that. In every training session and every match we want to give 100 per cent."