MANCHESTER UNITD flop Angel Di Maria has shed tears at rejoining his boyhood club – dubbing his one-year deal with Rosario Central the HIGHLIGHT of his career.
The Argentine winger has won the World Cup, plus the Champions League and La Liga with Real Madrid.
He left the Argentine side 18 years ago for a brilliant career in Europe[/caption]
Di Maria shined at all of his clubs apart from Manchester United, where he only spent a year[/caption]
Di Maria amassed five Ligue 1 titles among a host of prizes with Paris Saint-Germain, plus five trophies in Portugal with Benfica.
He commanded a £59million fee in 2014 when United signed him from Madrid, but managed just four goals in 32 games.
The Red Devils took a £15m hit on him when selling him to PSG a year later.
Di Maria has now gone back to hometown club Rosario, 18 years after leaving the central Argentine city for Benfica.
He had been due to join them last year, but death threats from the drugs underworld prompted him to postpone his move.
The 37-year-old said: “I am proud of all I have achieved until now, but this moment surpasses everything.
“It is very special for me to be able to come home after such a long time – so many years.
“Being able to return to Rosario with my family, to pull on the Central shirt once more and to make the fans happy again means everything.
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“It is something I had dreamed about doing for a long time.
“I had wanted it to happen sooner, but unfortunately it was not possible.
“But that’s in the past, and I’m here now. I am happy, with my family, and this is what I wanted.
“I have had the opportunity to meet all my new teammates, to train, wear the club shirt once again, and to play for this great club once more.”
Di Maria’s career stats
- Rosario Central, 2005-2007: 39 games, 6 goals
- Benfica, 2007-2010: 125 games, 15 goals
- Real Madrid, 2010-2014: 190 games, 36 goals
- Man Utd, 2014-2015: 32 games, 4 goals
- PSG, 2015-2022: 295 games, 92 goals
- Juventus, 2022-2023: 40 games, 8 goals
- Benfica, 2023-2025: 92 games, 36 goals
- Rosario Central, 2025-present: 0 games, 0 goals
- Argentina, 2008-2024: 145 games, 31 goals
Trophies
- Benfica: Primeira Liga, League Cup x3, Portuguese Super Cup
- Real Madrid: La Liga, Copa del Rey x2, Spanish Super Cup, Champions League, Uefa Super Cup
- PSG: Ligue 1 x5, French Cup x5, League Cup x4, Champions Trophy x5
- Argentina: U20 World Cup, Olympics 2008, World Cup, Copa America x2, Uefa Cup of Champions
