Mr Noodles - Angel Di Maria

Angel di Maria has made clear that his focus is on fighting for continued playing time at Real Madrid, amid rumours of a move away.

The Argentine is seen as having grown increasingly unhappy during the first half of the season for a diminishing role in Carlo Ancelotti’s plans, behind Gareth Bale.

However, after deputising for the Welshman on Sunday against Valencia and opening the scoring with a notable strike, the 25-year-old reflected that his mind is set on team affairs only.

“I never asked for a renewal. All that has been said about my desire to not continue at Real Madird is a lie,” asserted Di Maria to reporters after yesterday’s 3-2 win at Mestalla.

“I am happy at Real Madrid because I am at a team where the Coach has me in mind - when there is a space in the team, I start.

“When a footballer is signed for €100m, it is to play, but the important thing is that I am in mind.

“I have to keep doing things well in these matches and in training. I am thinking about Real Madrid and I am still working hard.

“The Coach and everyone around me knows. I have to keep going and try to earn a place in the team.

“The important thing is to continue here, I'm very happy.

“In the summer there was a lot of interest in getting me to leave Real Madrid, but I was just thinking about staying here and doing well at this club.”

The winger was asked about his particular goal celebration, where he sucks his thumb.

“I celebrate the goals for my daughter and to show that I am still fighting for a spot in the starting XI.”

Angel Di Maria has said that despite falling out with Jose Mourinho in the Coach’s last season at Real Madrid, he remains grateful to him.

Di Maria has spoken with Argentine radio and Mundo Deportivo reports that the midfielder has praised highly the current Madrid Coach, Carlo Ancelotti.

“The Coach benched me and I appreciate it,” Di Maria said.

“I returned to the team and I think everything is on track today. Things are going well here and I hope to continue in a good way for the World Cup.

“I always had a good relationship with Mourinho until the last year, which is when he began to fall out with most players.

“That’s normal when things go wrong but he brought me to Madrid and I’ll always be grateful.”

Madrid play the first-leg of the Champions League semi-final against Bayern Munich in the coming week and it is not yet known if Cristiano Ronaldo will be fit for the game.

Di Maria was unable to shed any light on the availability of his colleague but stressed the importance of the fixture.

“Getting knocked out is as if you dropped the world,” the former Benfica man said.

“Reaching the final is what we all want. We’ve gone out before the final for the last three years so we know it’s hard. Hopefully this time we’ll do it.

“I don’t know if Cristiano will be fit for the first match, but hopefully, yes.

“No, it’s not the same without him. He’s a player who usually scores in the game, he’s a star, and the opponent knows it.”

"Many things were said, sometimes you think a lot and it hurts you when you are trying to always do your best for a club and then it comes out that you might be going to Tottenham," Di Maria told Marca.

"These are difficult moments for a player and it is difficult to keep out of it. I was relaxed, I knew I was going to stay at Madrid. I spoke with the boss last summer, he wanted me to stay, I told him he could count on me. Things went well. I took a good decision and was European champion."

"I am very happy," he said. "I had a great year and the fans recognised that, I always had their support. Although you want to stay, sometimes you cannot because the club wants another player, or to make more signings, and needs to sell. And somebody must go. But I am very happy."

http://www.espn.co.uk/football/sport/story/311527.html