Di Maria Abandons Plans Of Rosario Central Return After Death Threats
Angel Di Maria has been forced to abandon plans to see out the rest of his career with boyhood club Rosario Central.
Di Maria has attributed his decision to death threats aimed at his family and the increasing rate of drug-related crime in the Rosario region.
The 36-year-old is a free agent after leaving Benfica at the end of the 2023/2024 season.
Di Maria spent two seasons with Rosario Central before leaving for Europe in 2007 to play for Benfica, Real Madrid, Manchester United, Paris Saint Germain and Juventus.
The 2022 FIFA World Cup winner recently won his second Copa America with Argentina.
"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 told a television station in Rosario on Tuesday.
"Those months were horrible... we could only sit there and cry each night over not being able to carry out that dream return."
"It is disrespectful to talk about security and protocols for me when people from Rosario cannot go out to work, cannot wait for the bus without being robbed or killed for a backpack," Di Maria added.
