Angel Di Maria to return to boyhood club Rosario Central after Club World Cup

Angel Di Maria is set to make a final return to his to boyhood club Rosario Central but only after participating in the Club World Cup tournament with Benfica.

Former Argentina international Di Maria will leave Benfica after the Club World Cup to complete an emotional return to boyhood club Rosario Central. The 37-year-old has played in Portugal for the past two seasons, having previously played in top clubs across Europe.

Di Maria has had successful stints with Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus, though his brief foray into the Premier League with Manchester United was unsuccessful.

The news sent fans in Argentina into a frenzy as one of the country’s modern greats announced his return with an emotional video with the caption: “Our story still has more pages to be written.”

Benfica also released a statement that reads: “Benfica informs that the athlete Angel Di María will compete in the Club World Cup for Benfica, later transferring, once the competition is over, to Club Atletico Rosario Central, in Argentina, his training club.

“Participation in the first FIFA Club World Cup represents a special and symbolic moment for both Di María and Sport Lisboa e Benfica, marking the epilogue of an extraordinary and remarkable journey between the player and the club.”

Di Maria will now be eager to help Benfica with their Club World Cup campaign in the USA. The Primeira Liga runners-up face Boca Juniors, Auckland City and Bayern Munich in the group stages.