Real Madrid could not meet Angel Di Maria’s wage demands, says Florentino Perez

Of Di Maria’s £59.7m move to Manchester United, a British record transfer, Perez revealed the Argentina international left Real no option but to sell him after he turned down an improved contract.

“We made the best offer that we could to Di Maria and he didn’t accept it,” Perez said. “Hence we brought in James [Rodriguez], one of the best players at the World Cup and the Golden Boot award-winner. Di Maria had financial requests that I considered legitimate but we couldn’t satisfy them. I reiterate that we made him the best possible offer. With the exception of Cristiano [Ronaldo], Di Maria would have been the highest paid at Real Madrid.

“Had we accepted his financial demands it would have created an unbalanced treatment that would have put the club’s stability in danger. Di Maria left to Manchester for a fee that we considered fair and that is why the transfer was completed. We wish Di Maria the best professionally and personally.” Star man Cristiano Ronaldo criticised the sale

Perez was speaking after it was announced that Real’s income had surged above €600m (£477m) in 2013-14, a 10.9 per cent jump compared with the previous season. He revealed that Real coach Carlo Ancelotti  had proved crucial in the decision not to sign another United acquisition, the Colombian striker Radamel Falcao.

Falcao was heavily linked with a move to the Bernabeu in the past few months but joined United on a season-long loan from Monaco instead. “We considered signing Falcao,” Perez said. “But in this club we follow a sporting-economic equation which [former club president Santiago] Bernabeu taught us, and we decided not to do so. The coach’s opinion was also important in us turning it down.”

Madrid also sold Spanish midfielder Xabi Alonso to Bayern Munich, much to the disappointment of Ronaldo. “Xabi came to us and told us that he wanted to leave,” said Perez. “He thought it was the best for him and for the club.Our relationship with Xabi is excellent and we accepted his proposal. Xabi is in the final stages of his sporting career and wants to manage it in this way. We understand it and we respect it.”

Perez claimed Ronaldo’s criticisms had not hurt their relationship. “I know Cristiano Ronaldo very well,” he said. “Cristiano is the best player in the world and his loyalty to Madrid is unquestionable. I have listened to all the comments he made and, as I know him, I know that he never questioned the club. My relationship with him is perfect, there are zero discrepancies. Cristiano is the best player in the world, it’s obvious, and more so this year.” Real president Florentino Perez said Di Maria did not accept Los Blancos' offer

Real’s latest financial figures also showed a post-tax profit of €38.5m, up 4.4 per cent on a year earlier, and a drop in net debt of 21 per cent to €71.5m.

The performance suggests they will top Deloitte’s rankings of the world’s richest football clubs by income for a 10th consecutive year when the business services firm publishes its updated list early next year.