Transfer: Di Maria returns to boyhood club

Rosario Central has announced on its official channels the return of Angel di Maria, who will wear the shirt of the ‘Canalla’ when his time with Benfica at the Club World Cup comes to an end.

A real bombshell in Argentine football. Di Maria, who grew up in Rosario Central’s youth academy, has taken the definitive step to return to the ‘Canalla’ 18 years after his departure.

At the age of 37, the ‘Fideo’ will face the last stage of his career at the club of his love.

The Rosario-based club published a spectacular video through its social profiles recalling Angel’s time in the youth academy, in the first team (2005-07) and in the Argentine national team. “Our history together has more pages to write. Welcome, Angel, we’ve been waiting for you”, part of the video said.

His compatriots are waiting for him with open arms, although they will have to wait a bit because of Di Maria’s participation in the Club World Cup with Benfica. It is unknown how much he has signed for, as the entity has not issued a statement on the matter.

This is not the first time that Central tried to sign the ‘Fideo’. They already tried to convince him in 2024, but failed because of a series of threats to his entourage and the player himself. Gonzalo Belloso, president of the Argentine club, has played a key role in getting the green light of a player with whom he shared a dressing room between 2006 and 2007. Thus, the world champion with Argentina, with 36 titles to his name, will fulfill his dream of being able to retire at home.