Di Maria asked for too much

Cape Town - Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti says the club sold Angel Di Maria to Manchester United because the winger wanted too much money.

Di Maria was a key player under both Jose Mourinho and Carlo Ancelotti during his time at the Bernebeu and was instrumental in Real's Copa Del Rey and Champions League triumphs last season.

Seemingly forced out of the door, the Argentine believes he was unfairly treated by the club's hierarchy and cites a poor relationship with president Florentino Perez as one of the main reasons for leaving.

However, Ancelotti claims the 26-year-old's decision was financially driven and that the Los Blancos offloaded him due to his high wage demands.

"Di Maria asked for a lot of money and preferred to leave to go find it," the Italian tactician is quoted as saying by the International Business Times.

"I was in agreement with the club.

"There are times when the club needs to say no.

"You can't change the policies of the club for one player.

"The club couldn't give him the money he wanted. They say that I'm the manager of the club; of course, I coach for the club, not for the players."