Manchester United star Angel di Maria has given his backing to UNICEF in a bid to raise awareness of the dangers for premature babies.

The 26-year-old decided to get involved due to his own personal struggle, which involved his daughter Mia battling for her life after she was born three months premature.

"My daughter's taught me that everything is possible," 101greatgoals.com quotes Di Maria as saying. "She taught me that the most difficult thing is at times the easiest, that the efforts of someone can be rewarded.

"She taught me how to suffer and be able to withstand pain and be stronger. Everything she transmitted to me helped me have a spectacular season.

"We spent more than two months at the hospital, always with the same parents. The pain unites people. It makes you stronger and we had a very relationship with all the parents there. It was not easy but I had to fight."

Di Maria has impressed at Old Trafford following his summer move from Real Madrid and has netted three goals.