Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has attempted to end the row surrounding Angel Di Maria’s reaction to being substituted on Sunday by claiming he believes the Argentine star’s protests that he did not intend to make an offensive gesture.
Di Maria was spotted by television cameras grabbing his private parts as he made his way to the sidelines during the 3-0 victory over Celta Vigo, with the action interpreted by many as an obscene response to supporters in the Bernabeu who had been jeering his performance.
But the winger insisted it was simply a natural reflex reaction to make himself more comfortable and that he did not mean to cause any offence, and Ancelotti is more than happy to go along with that version of events.
Speaking ahead of tonight’s Copa del Rey home leg against Osasuna, the Italian boss said: “We have to believe the player. He’s given his explanation and if anyone thinks it was a rude gesture, he’s apologised.”
Ancelotti also hopes his team’s supporters will get behind the Argentina international, who has been linked with a move to Monaco or Manchester United during the current transfer window. “These fans are always demanding but they’re also very fond of their players and I don’t think he’ll have any problems,” said Ancelotti.
“The fans understand him, and the issue has to be finished with quickly because we have a lot of matches and we need him.”
However, Ancelotti also revealed that Di Maria will not be included in tonight’s team as Gareth Bale returns to the starting XI, but he insisted nothing should be read into that decision.
“I’m going to pick more rested players and we have Bale, who didn’t begin the match against Celta,” explained Los Blancos boss.
Elsewhere, arguably the tie of the round sees Real Sociedad host Villarreal in the first leg of a meeting between two form teams who will lock horns again in the league on Monday night.
Sociedad have won their last five games in La Liga to soar into fifth place, just one point and one place above an exciting Villarreal outfit who started the New Year with a 5-2 thrashing of Rayo Vallecano.