former Argentina winger Angel Di Maria has revealed that he will not be returning to his boyhood club, Rosario Central, due to threats made against him and his family.
The 36-year-old, who recently retired from international football after a triumphant Copa America campaign, disclosed the distressing details during an interview with a television station in Rosario.
Di Maria, who is currently a free agent following his departure from Benfica at the end of the last season, had expressed a strong desire to finish his career at Rosario Central, where he began his professional journey between 2005 and 2007.
The Argentine star, who has had an illustrious career with clubs such as Real Madrid, Manchester United, and Paris Saint-Germain, saw returning to his roots as a fitting conclusion to his time in football.
However, this dream has been shattered by a series of threats that have made it unsafe for him to consider a move back to the Argentine club.
Di Maria shared that the threats were not reported to the authorities, as he feared escalating the situation. The most harrowing incident involved a package left at his sister’s business.
It contained a pig’s head with a bullet hole in the forehead and a note warning that if he returned to Rosario Central, the next head would be that of his young daughter, Pia.
“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.
This chilling message has understandably led to an about-face in his plans, as the safety of his family takes precedence over his professional ambitions.
