Di Maria to return to boyhood club despite previous threats

Benfica winger Angel di Maria will return to Rosario Central. This comes 10 months after death threats halted his previous move.

The 37-year-old started his career at Rosario in 2005. The Argentine club announced his return on Thursday.

"Our history together has more pages to write. Welcome home," the club said in a video on X.

Di Maria played two seasons with Rosario before moving to Europe. He has since played over 700 games for clubs like Benfica, Real Madrid, and Juventus.

Last summer, Di Maria nearly rejoined Rosario as a free agent. However, rising drug-related violence and threats against him and his family stopped him.

He recalled a threat involving a pig's head and a bullet. It warned that if he returned to Rosario Central, his daughter would be next.

Di Maria described those months as horrible. "We could only sit there and cry each night," he said.

In Europe, Di Maria has won 30 trophies. These include league titles in three countries and the Champions League with Real Madrid.

He also won the World Cup and two Copa America titles with Argentina.

Di Maria returned to Benfica for a second spell in 2023. He will leave after next month's Club World Cup in the United States.