One of Portuguese daily reports that SL Benfica winger Ángel Di María has outlined a detailed plan for the final stages of his career. According to the plan, Di María will first return to his roots by playing for Rosario Central, his first Argentine club, during the last six months of 2024. Following this stint, he is set to join Inter Miami in 2025, where he will reunite with his long-time international teammate, Lionel Messi, to close out his professional football career.
Di María, now 36, aims for two last significant moves before retiring. His family, including his wife and children, will relocate from Lisbon to Miami this summer, with Di María joining them at the beginning of 2025. His current contract with Benfica expires on June 30, 2024, after which he plans to return to South America post the 2024 Copa América in the United States.
Inter Miami has become a prominent success story in Major League Soccer (MLS) over the past year, largely due to high-profile signings like Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba. These additions have propelled the team to the top of the Eastern Conference and overall MLS rankings in 2024. The potential inclusion of Di María would further bolster their squad, adding yet another international star to their lineup.
Managing the addition of Di María while adhering to MLS roster regulations will be a challenge for Inter Miami. Despite this, the club appears poised to welcome the experienced winger, who has had an illustrious career in Europe with stints at Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, and Juventus.
On the international stage, Di María has announced that he will retire from Argentina's national team after the 2024 Copa América, scheduled to be held from June 20 to July 14 in the U.S. He scored a crucial goal in Argentina's 2022 World Cup victory over France and has earned 138 caps for his country. Di María's international career will likely end with more than five additional appearances, given Argentina's strong performances in recent tournaments.
Ángel Di María's career is set to come full circle with a final run in Rosario Central, followed by a move to Inter Miami, where he will join forces with Messi once again. His journey through some of Europe's top clubs and his significant contributions to Argentina's national team highlight a remarkable football career nearing its end.