Angel Di Maria 'wanted to go to PSG' before joining Manchester United instead

Al-Khelaifi also criticised Michel Platini and Financial Fair Play

Angel Di Maria (Getty Images)

Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi has claimed Angel Di Maria wanted to join the Ligue 1 club before arriving at Manchester United.

The 26-year-old broke the British transfer record after a £59.7million move from Real Madrid last week, but Al-Khelaifi claims the move to Old Trafford was his second choice.

"Di Maria wanted to come to Paris but even without FFP (Financial Fair Play), we wouldn't have signed him," Al-Khelaifi told French newspaper Le Parisien.

“For two or three weeks I discussed this issue with my friend Florentino Perez, the president of Real Madrid.

“We met twice, we made an offer, but we did not agree on the price. For me it was too expensive. It has nothing to do with Financial Fair Play.

"The player wanted to come to Paris, but this was not possible.”

The suggestion comes just days after Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti suggested Di Maria only moved to Manchester United for money.

Although Ancelotti did not name Di Maria, the Italian boss inferred that the 26-year-old was not prepared to stay and fight for a place at the Bernabeu.

"Some players love to compete, others prefer to make more money," Ancelotti told Eurosport.

"If a player needs motivation to play at the best club in the world, I have no problem in letting him go."

The player himself said upon joining Manchester United: "I have thoroughly enjoyed my time in Spain and there were a lot of clubs interested in me, but United is the only club that I would have left Real Madrid for."

PSG were forced to curb their spending this summer, with David Luiz for £50m and Serge Aurier for £8m the only arrivals; last summer they spent £89m on Edinson Cavani, Lucas Digne and Marquinhos.

Uefa sanctioned PSG, along with Manchester City, under the new guidelines, prompting criticism from Al-Khelaifi.

Nasser Al-Khelaifia also said FFP was unfair (Getty Images)

"I do not know if Michel Platini wants to kill French football, but FFP is not fair," he added. "It is very difficult to understand. The big clubs stay big and small clubs remain small.

"We respect the rules but want to discuss it with Uefa in October to try to change the rules a little. Otherwise investors will not come in football - they will go to other sports such as Formula 1."