Manchester United to pay record fee for Angel Di Maria

Manchester United will have to pay a British record transfer fee to sign winger Angel Di Maria from Real Madrid.

Real coach Carlo Ancelotti revealed Di Maria, 26, has said goodbye to his team-mates ahead of an impending move.

United have been quoted £75m for the Argentine, although they do not expect the final figure to be so high.

However, senior club sources say the fee will "definitely" eclipse the £50m Chelsea paid Liverpool for striker Fernando Torres in 2011.

The Red Devils last broke the British transfer record when they paid Leeds £29.1m for Rio Ferdinand in 2002.

"Di Maria has not trained with us today and he came in to say goodbye to the players and people at the club," said Ancelotti on Sunday.

"There is nothing official yet but it is being sorted out. The decision is his and the club has done what it could to keep him here."

United boss Louis van Gaal is a known admirer of Di Maria, who would become the club's fourth summer signing, but the Dutchman would not be drawn on the issue after the club's 1-1 draw at Sunderland.

"I think always the club has to announce it," said Van Gaal. "And when we think it's the right time to form a transfer then we will come to you and say we have bought that player or the other player, but at this time we can't say anything."

Van Gaal confirmed he was an admirer of Di Maria but added: "I like [Lionel] Messi also. There are a lot of players in this world that I like but they can't always come to Manchester United."

The Old Trafford club have already bought left-back Luke Shaw, midfielder Ander Herrera and Di Maria's Argentina team-mate Marcos Rojo for a combined £72m this summer.