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Angel Di Maria turned down a big money contract extension to move to Manchester United, claims Florentino Perez.

The Argentine swapped the Bernabeu for Old Trafford in a British-record £59.7million deal last month.

But Real Madrid president Perez says he tried his utmost to keep him.

Indeed, he hinted that he was prepared to make him the second-highest earner at the club behind Cristiano Ronaldo to get him to stay.

"We made the best offer that we could to Di Maria and he didn't accept it. Hence, we brought in James (Rodriguez), one of the best players at the World Cup and the Golden Boot award winner," he said.

Manchester United 2014/15 summer spending £151.5m Paid £31.3m Received £120.2m Net

"Real has always respected contracts. Di Maria had financial requests that I considered legitimate but we couldn't satisfy them.

"I reiterate that we made him the best possible offer. With the exception of Cristiano (Ronaldo), Di Maria would have been the highest paid at Real Madrid.

"Had we accepted his financial demands it would have created an unbalanced treatment that would have put the club's stability in danger."

While it is clear Perez and Madrid wanted to keep Di Maria in the Spanish capital there is no bad blood between the two and he wished the midfielder well with his new club.

"Di Maria left to Manchester for a fee that we considered fair and that is why the transfer was completed," he added. "We wish Di Maria the best professionally and personally."

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