Argentine national team star Ángel Di María is out of contract with Benfica at the end of the season, and in recent months, there has been growing speculation that he may return to his native country.
However, a threat towards his family in Rosario could change plans and make Brazil a possible destination for the former Real Madrid player.
READ MORE
++ When do Brazil play again?
++ A lesson in humility for Lucas Beraldo with Brazil
++ How many members does each Brasileirao 2024 club have?
Di María has made it clear recently that he would like to return to Rosario Central, the club where he began his professional career, but the city is going through an extremely dangerous moment with drug cartels causing concern among the population.
In this context of insecurity, the Di María family received a threat in the early hours of Monday, March 25, when a group of criminals, from a car, threw a piece of nylon in front of the gated community where the footballer usually stays.
⚠️ Ameaças à família na Argentina podem fazer Di María jogar no Brasil no meio do ano.
O meia-atacante de 36 anos tratava como prioridade uma ida para o Rosario Central, mas as ameaças de grupos ainda não identificados pela Polícia do país podem fazer o craque mudar de planos e… pic.twitter.com/5kl7qcFS3G
— Planeta do Futebol 🌎 (@futebol_info) March 27, 2024
“Tell your son Ángel not to come back to Rosario because if he does, we’ll (expletive) k*** your family. Not even (Maximiliano) Pullaro (governor of the province of Santa Fe) can save you. We don’t throw little papers. We throw corpses,” read the threatening message to Di María’s father.
The perpetrators were arrested on Wednesday (27), but the incident still creates uncertainty about the player’s future.
Could Grêmio and São Paulo be options?
According to UOL Esporte, Brazil could become an alternative for Di María due to the danger posed by Rosario at this moment.
Grêmio and São Paulo have shown interest in signing him once he becomes a free agent, and they could remain as frontrunners to sign him in July. Both clubs are playing in this year’s Libertadores, so their progress in the competition could determine their need to pursue a world-class player.
