Manchester United: Louis van Gaal 'happy for Angel Di Maria to leave' as Barcelona eye situation

Barcelona are monitoring the situation of Manchester United star Angel Di Maria as the Argentina international is likely to leave Old Trafford and his manager Louis van Gaal happy to let him go, according to Catalan-based newspaper Sport.

Towards the end of last season, the Dutch boss said he expected Di Maria to stay at the club next term but suggested the player would have the last word on his future.

"I think Di Maria shall stay. He is working very hard. I am pleased with his attitude, so that is not a problem. The manager and the club is always dependable on the opinion of the player himself. The player decides, so we shall see what he decides," Van Gaal said to the club official website.

And Di Maria has responded in an interview with Ole during the Copa America, claiming that even though he had a tough debut season in the Premier League, he is ready to prove his worth next term.

"No [I haven't considered leaving], because I'm not thinking like that. In Madrid there were times when I was whistled around the stadium but faced it and then it turned around. I like to deal with things."

But Sport claims the former Real Madrid star is likely to move away after just one season following Van Gaal securing his services for a club record of £59.7m ($91m).

And even though Barcelona cannot sign any players during the summer transfer window due to a Fifa ban, the Spanish publication claims the Champions League winners have already made contact with both the player and his agent, receiving a positive response in the process.

Sport suggests the first contacts have being made to discover the intentions of the player and it assures: "Di Maria is liked, a lot, by Barca, and the Argentine would love to return to La Liga dressed in blaugrana."

Nevertheless, the Catalan-based publication insists with more clubs interested in the Argentine, "what is not up for debate is that he wants to leave Manchester United and that Louis van Gaal would be happy to let him leave".