MANCHESTER CITY MANAGER Manuel Pellegrini has revealed the Premier League champions could not afford to sign Angel Di Maria due to Financial Fair Play.
The Argentina international joined Manchester United for a British record €76 million in August and has impressed for the Red Devils, scoring three goals already.
Pellegrini has admitted that after a FFP fine, the Blues were unable to match the fee paid for the former Real Madrid man.
“I think it is very easy,” he told reporters. “We had important restrictions about our budget this year. We cannot spend the money that United paid for Di Maria.
“We had important restrictions on the amount of players we can have this year and also the amount of money we can spend.”
Di Maria will line-up for the Old Trafford outfit when they travel to the Etihad Stadium for the first Manchester derby of the season, with Wayne Rooney set to join him in the starting XI after a three-match suspension.
And though Pellegrini believes the former Benfica star will cause his side a threat, there are others in Louis van Gaal’s team who must be stopped.
“If you asked me if he is a good player I think he is a good player and a very useful player for every team.
“I think he is a very good player but he is not the only good player at Manchester United.”
