Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo and Spanish defender Sergio Ramos were two of Real Madrid's most distraught players when ex-Los Blancos favorite Mesut Ozil left the Bernabeu for Arsenal last season.
"The sale of Ozil is bad news for me. He is the player who knows best my movements in front of goal. I am very unhappy about the sale," the two-time Ballon d'Or winner was reported as saying when Real Madrid shipped out the German playmaker to the Emirates for £42m.
And just as Isco's arrival at the 10-time Champions League-winning club back in 2013 spelled the end of Ozil's time with the Liga BBVA heavyweights, the signing of World Cup Golden Boot winner James Rodriguez looks to have the same result on Argentine ace Angel Di Maria.
CR7 and Sergio Ramos were not happy to see Real Madrid sell Mesut Ozil, with the Spanish defender sending out this farewell picture to the German playmaker via Twitter
Los Blancos' £63m acquisition has already led to a diminished role for one of the Madrid side's most impressive player of last season, as the 26-year-old attacker was demoted to the bench for both Les Merengues' UEFA and Spanish Super Cup ties.
Now, according to Spanish outlet MARCA, in an attempt to avoid seeing another star player leave Real Madrid for more guaranteed playing time, Cristiano Ronaldo and Sergio Ramos, referred to as the "most influential figures in the Real dressing room", have personally met with Florentino Pérez to convince the club president against selling Di Maria.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Sergio Ramos have plead with Florentino Pérez not to cash in on Angel Di Maria
The former Benfica winger, who was welcomed by the Real Madrid fans with a standing ovation upon making a late cameo in the 1-1 draw with Atletico Madrid in Tuesday, is heavily tipped with a move to either Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain, or English Premier League giants Manchester United.
Despite belief Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti plans on using Di Maria, the former AC Milan boss hinted at a possible exit for the Argentine, quoted by AS (per Sport Witness) as saying:
" I don't know what Di Maria has decided. He's ready to play and he may help us. Until August 31 I'll keep this line. If he stays or goes, then everything will return to normal."
Will CR7 and Co. wave farewell to Los Blancos' Argentine wizard as they did German midfielder Mesut Ozil?
