OMNISPORT 

Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Angel di Maria claims he was sold by Real Madrid last year to fund the club's transfer activity.

Di Maria was transferred to Manchester United for a British-record 59.7 million pounds ($92 million) in August 2014, but the Argentina international never settled in the Premier League and was eventually sold to French champion PSG in a deal worth 44.3 million pounds ($68 million) this past summer.

The 27-year-old returned to the Santiago Bernabeu for the first time since leaving Madrid on Tuesday, unable to prevent a 1-0 Champions League defeat.

Seemingly disgruntled by the manner of his exit from the club, Di Maria told Antena 3 he was sold to cover the costs of James Rodriguez and Toni Kroos.

"I didn't go for the money. I wanted to renew my contract but they didn't want that. They had to cover the cost of their big summer signings," Di Maria said. "An offer came in of 75 million euros and they transferred me to Manchester. They didn't even let me go out the front door — if I went out the back door it was because of them, not me."

Di Maria has scored four goals in 12 appearances for PSG.