Manchester United defender Chris Smalling was disappointed Angel Di Maria left the club after only one season.
The Argentine was signed for 59.7m from Real Madrid under Louis van Gaal, but was sold the following summer.
"This might surprise you but Angel Di Maria was one of best players I've ever seen," the defender told The Athletic.
"It ended sourly, but when he first signed he looked incredible.
"He did it on the field at the start too, he chipped a goal at Leicester and I thought he would take us to the next level.
"All of us watched him and thought: 'We just need to get him the ball and he'll do something special.'
"It's a shame it ended for him so quickly at Old Trafford, that he has been considered a flop because he's a great player."
