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Angel Di Maria has apologized to Real Madrid and its supporters as the club confirms it will investigate his "gesture" during Monday's 3-0 win over Celta, Goal.com said. 

The Argentina international grasped his groin as he was substituted, prompting fevered speculation that he was aiming an insult at either the crowd - some of whom booed him from the pitch for his performance - or coach Carlo Ancelotti.

Di Maria protested after the match that he was not making any sort of derogatory gesture and has now offered an apology to anyone who viewed the incident as such, with the club confirming it will look into the matter to see if any disciplinary proceedings should be required.

"I made a natural gesture when I was leaving. I did not do anything to the crowd, nor to the coach. It was a natural gesture that any man makes, especially when running," Di Maria, 25, told Real Madrid TV. "You do it on the pitch lots of times. If there is anyone who was made to feel bad then I apologize, but as I said, it was a natural gesture meant for no one. On TV, all you see is a millisecond. It's nothing.

"It's not that I stayed a long time to do something on purpose. It was something natural. For the people who feel bad for what I did, then I apologize, but it wasn't anything against anyone."

Di Maria added that he fully supported the club's investigation as he looks to clarify the incident.

"It seems right, not only for them to analyze it but for me to explain the situation and what happened," he said. "I think it's good to talk to them directly and explain what happened on the pitch, as I have already done to several Argentine radio stations."