Di Maria's 'Dream' Move to Rosario Ruined by Death Threats

 

Angel Di Maria Reveals Death Threats Have Led Him to Abandon Plans to Rejoin Rosario Central

The 36-year-old free agent, who parted ways with Benfica at the end of the last season, retired from international football earlier this month after winning the Copa America with Argentina.

Di Maria, who had a stint at Rosario Central from 2005 to 2007, had hoped to return to the Argentine club to finish his career. However, a series of threats to him and his family, which he kept private out of fear, have caused him to reconsider his plans.

In an interview with a Rosario television station on Tuesday, Di Maria revealed a disturbing incident: “There was a threat at my sister’s business involving a box with a pig’s head, a bullet, and a note stating that if I returned to Rosario Central, my daughter Pia would be the next target.” He added, “Those months were dreadful. We could only sit and cry each night over our inability to fulfill that dream.”

After leaving Rosario Central for Benfica in 2007, Di Maria spent three years at the Portuguese club before moving to Real Madrid. Following a successful four-year spell in Madrid, he was transferred to Manchester United in a then-British record £59.7 million deal. His time at United was brief, lasting just a year before he was sold to Paris Saint-Germain.

Di Maria enjoyed seven years with PSG, followed by a season at Juventus before rejoining Benfica in 2023.