Angel Di Maria leaves 'Europe but not the ball: new chapter for 'El Fideo'

With a lengthy interview given on the official channels of Benfica, the club he represented until his elimination from the Club World Cup on the night between Saturday and Sunday in Italy, Angel Di Maria has officially bid farewell to European soccer, 18 years after his arrival in the Old Continent precisely at Benfica, before experiences at Real Madrid, Manchester United, PSG and Juventus.

Di Maria will return to his native Argentina to Rosario Central, the club that launched him into professional soccer: “First, however, it was right for me to return to Benfica – said ‘El Fideo’ -For me it was like being at home, it was my first club in Europe. A place where I arrived at the age of 18 with my mother, father and sisters, where from day one I felt the affection and love of the people”.

“Now I go away again, but with the joy of being back, of keeping the word I gave Benfica when I first left 15 years ago. I longed to finish my career at Rosario Central, at my club, at home: that is where I grew up and started playing. I am living the end of my career that I dreamed of”.

At Benfica, Di Maria played a total of five seasons, three between 2007 and 2010 and two between 2023 and 2025. With the Lisbon Eagles he won a Portuguese Championship, three League Cups and a Super Cup, to add to the countless trophies he won with Real Madrid, PSG and the Argentine national team. His last match with Benfica was topped by a penalty goal against Chelsea, but not enough to avoid elimination from the Club World Cup, which came after extra time (4-1 the final result).