Benfica turn down Manchester United bid for Di Maria
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According to the News of the World, Manchester United have had a bid rejected for Benfica's impressive Argentinian winger Angel Di Maria .
The 21 year-old has been in excellent form this season and Old Trafford boss Sir Alex Ferguson will have noted Di Maria's performance in the Portugese giants' recent hammering of Everton in the Europa League.
United reportedly offered around £10M plus midfielder Nani in order to bring Di Maria to the club. Nani has performed solidly but failed to capture the imagination at United since his 2007 move to Manchester from Sporting Lisbon.
Meanwhile, Di Maria, known as 'the little angel' already has six Argentina caps to his name and scored the winner in the 2008 Olympic final.
Ferguson had hoped that Di Maria could add some sparkle to United's attack as their recent form has stuttered in the defence of their Premier League title.
But Benfica rejected the bid out of hand, pointing out that Di Maria, 21, has a £40m buy-out clause in a contract he signed two months ago.
Benfica president Luis Felipe Vieira is reluctant to disrupt the team at the moment because they are in contention for the Portuguese League title and have reached the last 16 of the Europa League.