Carlo Ancelotti says Angel Di Maria is leaving Real Madrid - so a move to Manchester United for around £64 million is now likely to be completed in the coming days.
Di Maria did not take part in training at Real's Valdebebas complex this morning but instead said his goodbyes to his soon-to-be former team-mates.
"He came in, but this morning he did not train," Ancelotti said. "It is not fully done, but he is close to a transfer.
"He came to say goodbye. We thanked him for what he has done for this team and we wished him luck for the future. It is not official, but it is resolved."
ESPN sources have learned that United are close to agreeing a fee, but that Real want the same deal as they paid for James Rodriguez: €75m (£60m), plus €5m (£4m) in incentives.
Di Maria's future has been a huge talking point around the Bernabeu all summer, with club president Florentino Perez apparently keen to sell to at least partially balance the books after spending the same amount on World Cup star James from Monaco.
Ancelotti had at first appeared keen to hang on to a player who was so important to Madrid winning the Champions League and Copa del Rey last season, but changed his perspective last week when he claimed Di Maria himself was now trying to force a move away.
Ancelotti - who fought hard to keep Di Maria through last season and kept playing him even after the player thrust his crotch at Madrid fans whistling him at the Bernabeu - said the club had done everything possible to keep him but the player had himself decided to go.
"I have a very good relationship with him," Ancelotti said. "It was his own decision, the club did everything possible, offering him all that he could get here. He has decided something else, so we wish him much luck."
Di Maria's unhappiness at Madrid is thought to stem from him not receiving sufficient recognition from Perez for his contributions through recent seasons. Spanish newspaper AS report that the player was last season on about €3.5m (£2.8m) a year, putting him outside the 'top 10' of the club's best paid players.
AS say he was offered about €5m to stay this summer, while United made an offer of £6.4m (€8m) to his agent Jorge Mendes.
