The Argentine had won the Champions League with Los Blancos mere months previously and his stock, after his final performance against Atletico Madrid, was high.
But it did not work out. He left labelled a snake after failing to settle.
The same can be said for Memphis Depay – though nobody associated with United uses the reptile reference with him.
The Holland international was another forward Van Gaal put his faith in, installed with the belief his compatriot could be a Ronaldo replacement.
How wrong he was. After just 18 months, he was flogged to Lyon.
United also signed Alexis Sanchez because, with Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford impressing on the left, they thought he could do the same on the opposite flank.
But, with just six goals from nearly 18 months of football at United, he is primed to join Depay and Di Maria on the scrapheap.
Those three United flops are why the Red Devils are expected to sign Sancho.
And, if they don’t, they face the Dortmund star going on to achieve great things elsewhere.
