The Argentina international has compared his understanding with the striker to the one he enjoys with the Barcelona star at international level

Angel Di Maria says his understanding with Wayne Rooney reminds him of the link-up he has with Lionel Messi for Argentina.

The 26-year-old joined United from European champions Real Madrid in a British-record €75 million deal in the summer.

Di Maria has settled in well, despite a disappointing last few weeks, scoring three goals in 11 games, and revealed his special relationship with United’s captain.

“Playing with him is a pleasure and a point of pride,” Di Maria told the Daily Mail.

“When I was 15, more or less, I used to watch him playing with United. I admired him and wanted to be like that. Whether it’s him, Giggs, or any of the others, playing with them is something really special.

“Rooney is at the top level. The other day I was talking to my friend and I said, ‘Rooney and me understand each other, just like Messi and me in the Argentina squad, or Cristiano at Real Madrid’.

“I get on really well with Rooney, we get together on the pitch to kick the ball about, to do things. He’s a spectacular player and he’s one of the top players in the game.”

Di Maria lifted the Champions League with Real Madrid last season but his decision to join United, who failed to qualify for the competition this term, means he has focused on other pursuits on European nights.

“No, I don’t watch the (European) matches,” he added. “I play with my daughter instead. It’s more important.

“I knew when I came to Manchester that I wouldn’t be playing in the Champions League but what I was thinking — what I think now —was that I would do my bit to help my team-mates qualify for the Champions League so that the next year we would be back playing important games,” he said. “I think that will happen.”

Di Maria’s daughter Mia, who turns two in April, was born premature and had to spend time in hospital, but the Argentina international insists he and his family have settled well in Manchester since moving from Madrid.

“They’re fine now, they’re happy,” he explained. “She was in hospital for two months but there weren’t any further problems, thank God. So, we’re really great and happy to be here in Manchester.

“I think that, with what happened with my daughter, I realised that there isn’t anything more important than that. You just want to be with your kids in these difficult moments, like the ones my daughter went through.”

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