Death threats ruin Di Maria’s ‘dream’ Return to Rosario Central

Angel Di Maria, the former Argentina winger, has revealed that death threats forced him to abandon his plans to return to his boyhood club, Rosario Central. The 36-year-old, who recently retired from international football after winning the Copa America with Argentina, intended to end his career at the Argentine club where he began his professional journey.

Di Maria, now a free agent after leaving Benfica at the end of last season, spent two formative years at Rosario Central from 2005 to 2007. However, threats against his family have compelled him to reconsider his decision. The threats were not reported to authorities due to fear of escalation.

“There was a threat at my sister’s business, a box with a pig’s head and a bullet in the forehead, and a note that said that if I returned to [Rosario] Central, the next head was that of my daughter Pia,” Di Maria recounted in an interview with a television station in Rosario. “Those months were horrible. We could only sit there and cry each night over not being able to carry out that dream return.”

Di Maria’s illustrious career began at Rosario Central before he moved to Benfica in 2007. After three successful years in Portugal, he joined Real Madrid, where he won numerous titles during his four-year stint. In 2014, Di Maria transferred to Manchester United for a then-British record fee of £59.7 million but spent only one season in England before moving to Paris Saint-Germain.

After a fruitful seven years with PSG, Di Maria had a season with Juventus before rejoining Benfica in 2023. Despite his desire to return to Rosario Central, the safety of his family takes precedence, leading him to reluctantly abandon his plans.

The threats have cast a shadow over what was meant to be a heartfelt return to the club where Di Maria’s professional career began, leaving him and his family devastated by the situation.