Manchester: Manchester United record signing Angel di Maria's stunning start to his time at Manchester United was the surprise, not the winger's recent dip in form, Argentina coach Gerardo Martino said.
Di Maria, a 26-year-old Argentina winger, joined from Real Madrid in a USD 98 million deal on transfer deadline day and scored three goals in his first five games for the English giants.
Di Maria is set to play on his club home ground when Argentina face Portugal in an international friendly at Old Trafford later today, billed as the "Battle of the Galacticos", with Martino defending his playmaker following recent criticism.
"I have to say that Angel is one of the very top players in world football," Martino told an Old Trafford news conference.
"His start was exceptional and the fact that generally when players go to a new club and have to get used to a new league, a new team, a different style of football and different team-mates, I think the form that he is showing now is possibly more typical of a player going to a new club than the very first few games when he burst onto the scene and did so well.
"With regards to his position, I would say that Angel is the type of player who can play a number of different roles expertly. You only have to look a few seasons back when he played on the right side for Real Madrid and in the season just gone, he featured more on the inside-left in a slighter freer role.
