Di María Will Not Return to Rosario Central Due to Insecurity
The highly anticipated return of Argentine footballer Ángel Di María to his beloved club, Rosario Central, has been thwarted by the prevailing insecurity in the province of Santa Fe, according to the club’s president, Gonzalo Belloso.
"On Saturday afternoon, he told me his decision that he will not return to the club because he does not feel the security guarantees for himself or his family," Belloso stated in an interview with Radio 2 Rosario, days after Benfica announced that the player would stay with the Portuguese club for another season.
The family of the Argentine international received a threatening message last March at their home in Rosario, a city that has recently seen a resurgence of violence associated with drug trafficking.
"It hurts us because we wanted him. We respect his decision very much, but Central has to play again tomorrow and we are looking ahead," explained Belloso.
The former player and club president since 2022 denied some rumors that had been circulating about an imminent signing of Di María in recent weeks, including details about the length of the contract or his conditions for returning to the team where he played between 2005 and 2007.
Belloso regretted that the return of the 36-year-old player had been frustrated and assured that the club is "in a great moment to receive him" after having won the League Cup in 2023.
"We believe this is the best time for him to come. He informed us that after the threats, he began to doubt the possibility of coming, that he did not feel safe, and that he would make his decision after the Copa América," he highlighted.
Belloso also explained that he suffered similar incidents when he took office, with threats and insults at his home and that of his relatives, although he clarified that over time "the threats turned into support."
The former Real Madrid and PSG player is currently on vacation in Argentina after winning the Copa América in the United States.