Angel Di Maria to complete return to boyhood club Rosario Central after ex-Man Utd & Real Madrid winger competes in Club World Cup with Benfica

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Angel Di Maria will make an emotional return to his former team almost 20 years after he made his professional debut in Argentina.

WHAT HAPPENED?

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 wowed crowds during stints with Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus, though his brief foray into the Premier League with Manchester United was unsuccessful.

Nuestra historia juntos tiene más páginas por escribir  pic.twitter.com/JhakDVuR4M

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THE BIGGER PICTURE

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."

WHAT BENFICA SAID

A statement from Benfica 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."

DID YOU KNOW?

Di Maria also had a long and distinguished international career with Argentina, helping them win two Copa America titles and the 2022 World Cup, where he scored in the final against France. He announced his retirement from the national team last year, with only Lionel Messi and Javier Mascherano managing more than his 145 caps.

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WHAT NEXT FOR DI MARIA?

Before he returns to his homeland, Di Maria must 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.