Angel Di Maria's arrival at the Old Trafford seems inevitable at this point in time.

The Argentine's departure from Real Madrid has already been confirmed and it is just a matter of days before he passes his physical in London and joins the Red Devils.

For Di Maria and Real Madrid, the breakup is undoubtedly bitter. The player was a catalyst for its 2013-14 Champions League win and had a tremendous run in the Spanish League. Los Blancos will miss his direct creativity and speedy runs as displayed in the recent Super Cup loss against Atletico Madrid.

For Di Maria, this may represent a new opportunity, but it could be one that ultimately frustrates him.

For Manchester United, this addition could not have come at a better time. The team has yet to win a game in the Premier League, and it is becoming increasingly clear that last year's meltdown was no fluke. This team really is not very good.

So Di Maria's arrival will come as a huge blessing as he provides something the team lacks in the midfield -- width, creativity, speed and unpredictability.

Louis van Gaal's game plan thus far has been to utilize a 3-4-1-2 formation with three central defenders, four midfielders (including two wingbacks) and a central attacking midfielder deployed behind two forwards. This formation has made the team attack more central but has placed greater onus on the wingbacks to move forward and track back at the same time. This leaves the team with limited width as other defenders can simply track the wingbacks and block their trajectory. It also leaves the team susceptible on the counter as the wingbacks can easily get caught up the pitch.

Bringing in Di Maria aids the team tremendously in not only providing width but also some defensive cover. Di Maria is a natural winger that is relentless running in both directions. One of the advantages that he provided Carlo Ancelotti in 2013-14 was that he would run back to help defend, thus giving Real Madrid more numbers at the back. He is far from a terrific defender, but his tenacity and speed more than make up for any weaknesses in tackling.

He can also be deployed in the middle of the park as he was under Ancelotti. He would roam more freely from one flank to the other, allowing wingers like Cristiano Ronaldo or Gareth Bale to move more centrally and outnumber the opposing defense.

A lot of how Di Maria is deployed will depend on van Gaal and his system. His insistence on a three-man backline means that he will likely continue to rely on his wingbacks to add depth. Di Maria is not going to help if he is forced into a central role as his best role is linking with the offensive trio. If van Gaal opts for a four-man backline and allows for a trio of midfielders, then Di Maria could play a similar role to the one he played for Carlos Ancelotti. Or if van Gaal opts for something more akin to a 4-4-2 with Mata deployed more centrally behind the striker duo and a holding midfielder, then Di Maria could be used on the wings in his natural position.

His arrival certainly gives van Gaal more options, but how much impact Di Maria has is up to his coach. It should be interesting to see if the numbers hold up from last season. In 2013-14, he led Real Madrid with 17 assists. He was playing with 50-goal man Cristiano Ronaldo as well as Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema, both of whom had 20 goals last year. Van Persie and Rooney are capable of 30-goal seasons, but neither has been consistent in recent years.

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