Angel di Maria
Angel Di Maria has scored three Premier League goals this season Getty Images/OLI SCARFF

Manchester United Angel Di Maria has claimed he does not miss his Real Madrid life and backed the decision he made last summer to join Louis van Gaal's side, claiming he needed to make a step forward in his career.

The Argentina international lead the Spanish giants to Champions League and Copa del Rey trophies last season but decided to leave the side as he did not believe he was valued by club president Florentino Perez.

The midfielder was heavily linked with a move to Paris Saint-Germain before agreeing a move to Old Trafford, after the Premier League giants paid a record £59.7m fee for his services.

Di Maria has since just scored three Premier League goals, while United are fourth in the table, with as many points as they had at this stage of the competition last season under David Moyes.

But when asked during an interview with DirectTV Sport whether he missed his Real Madrid life, he said: "No, the truth is that one likes to make changes.

"I spent three years in Portugal [at Benfica]. I did not want to leave but I went to Real Madrid to keep growing. And since I wanted to keep growing further I came to Manchester United."

After overcoming a couple of injuries that forced him to missed six Premier League games, Di Maria hopes to replicate his Real Madrid form during the second part of the campaign.

"Now I need to keep growing, keep improving and be at a high level, which is what brought me to Manchester United," he said.

"In Argentina the Premier League is very important. My friends like it and I was eager to play here since I was a kid. It is very different from the others [leagues]. It's very nice to be here and hopefully I can be here many years."