Moving to PSG a step up: Silva

LONDON • Thiago Silva has claimed that Paris Saint-Germain are a bigger club than Manchester United ahead of Angel di Maria's move to the French outfit.

Di Maria flew to Qatar on Sunday and was set to undergo a PSG medical there late yesterday.

A £44 million (S$94 million) fee has reportedly been agreed between United and PSG, who are owned by Qatar Sports Investment.

The Argentinian's imminent move follows big-money signings in recent seasons, including Edinson Cavani for €64.5 million (S$97 million), David Luiz (£50 million) and Javier Pastore (€42 million).

Silva believes di Maria is headed for greener pastures.

  • MOST EXPENSIVE PLAYER

  • Angel di Maria is ready to become football's only £132 million (S$283 million) man. The Argentinian will become the world's most expensive player based on the cumulative values of his transfer fees when he completes his £44 million move
    from Manchester United to Paris Saint-Germain, reported the Daily Mail. Here is a look at the top five footballers to command the biggest total transfer fees.

  • 1 Angel di Maria (Total: £132.6m)
    Rosario to Benfica (2007): £5.6m
    Benfica to Real Madrid (2010): £23m
    Real to Man United (2014): £60m
    Man United to PSG (2015): £44m

    2 Zlatan Ibrahimovic (£126.7m)
    Malmo to Ajax (2001):£5m
    Ajax to Juventus (2004): £12m
    Juventus to Inter (2006):£20m
    Inter to Barcelona (2007): £55m
    Barcelona to AC Milan (2012): £19m
    AC Milan to PSG (2012): £15.7m

    3 James Rodriguez (£106.5m)
    Banfield to Porto (2010):£5m
    Porto to Monaco (2013): £38.5m
    Monaco to Real (2014): £63m

    4 Luis Suarez (£103.5m)
    Nacional to Groningen (2006): £500,000
    Groningen to Ajax (2007):£5m
    Ajax to Liverpool (2011): £23m
    Liverpool to Barcelona (2014): £75m

    5 Gareth Bale (£96m)
    Southampton to Tottenham (2007): £10m
    Tottenham to Real (2013): £86m

In quotes published by British newspapers yesterday, the Brazil centre-back said: "I think that people now need to respect PSG as a club, and our position as one of the big clubs in Europe.

"Real Madrid and Barcelona are probably on another level, but after that, if you are joining PSG, it means you are probably taking a step up."

The PSG captain pointed to the French champions' victory over Chelsea in last season's Champions League semi-finals as evidence that they are a force in world football.

"We went further than any English clubs in Europe last year - even beating the English champions.

"Every season, we keep our best players despite much interest, and always add the best players in Europe," he said.

"How many clubs can say that?"

Di Maria joined United from Real Madrid for a British-record fee of £59.7 million last summer. Now, the 27-year-old is set to become the most expensive footballer ever in terms of cumulative transfer fees, reported the Daily Mail.

He would have commanded £132.6 million worth of transfer fees in his career once he is unveiled as a PSG player.

Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.

A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on August 04, 2015, with the headline Moving to PSG a step up: Silva. Subscribe