Angel Di Maria claims Real Madrid sold him to cover transfer costs

Paris Saint-Germain winger Angel Di Maria was quick to hypothesize Tuesday that his sale by Real Madrid was to offset the cost of a slew of marquee purchases by the Spanish club.

Real sold the attacking midfielder to Manchester United for a British record of £59.7 million two summers ago, with his struggles at Old Trafford prompting his £44.3-million sale to the three-time defending Ligue 1 champs.

"I didn't leave for money," Di Maria told journos Tuesday, following a 1-0 Champions League loss to that same Real Madrid club.

"I wanted to see if I could renew and they didn't want me to. They wanted to cover the costs of the great players they had signed that summer."

Real spent £104 million in the summer of 2014 on the likes of Toni Kroos, James Rodriguez, Keylor Navas, and Danilo, recouping £80 million on the sales of Di Maria, Nuri Sahin, Xabi Alonso, and Alvaro Morata, among others.

The Argentine international's £59.7 million fee comprised 74 percent of Real's total transactions during the transfer window, prompting the 66-time-capped international's exit from the Santiago Bernabeu, even if it wasn't the way he wanted to leave the famed Spanish giants.

"I had to leave by the back door. It wasn't how I would have wanted."

With four goals in 12 up-and-down appearances for the capital club, Di Maria is looking to overcome criticisms of his play garnered during a tumultuous Old Trafford tenure.

"I am changing little by little," he added. "I'm happy in Paris and I hope to be for many years."