Ángel Di María was emphatic when referring to his future and dispelled any speculation about a possible retirement. In a press conference held in Rosario, the Rosario Central forward assured that he is going through a moment of happiness and that he has no plans to end his career.
“Everyone is saying they want me to retire, but not at this moment, the truth is that I am very happy, I am very content. The conference was to chat a bit with everyone because I talk little with those from Rosario since I usually speak on the field, I always say it and I wanted to hold a conference here with all of you, I don’t want to retire, I’m not going to retire, I’m happy,” he expressed.
The footballer also highlighted his return to Argentine football and emphasized the competitiveness of the league. “I am enjoying Argentine football, I returned to Argentine football to be happy in a competitive league. You all said it last semester that you wanted me to go to the World Cup, so that means the league is competitive. I am very happy here and nothing, I want to keep enjoying,” he stated.
Di María's peace of mind about Rosario Central
Fideo also referred to the rumors that generated concern among fans after he announced the conference and shared that he received numerous calls asking about his future. “Yes, terrible, the truth is terrible, but nothing, I feel that people are very nervous about this whole issue,” he pointed out. In that sense, he highlighted the growth that Rosario Central has experienced in recent years.
“I believe we are going through a great moment at Central, I think the club has been growing more and more for four years, playing all competitions, winning titles, and it seems quite the opposite, I think from this side of the sidewalk we are doing very well,” he stated.
Additionally, he emphasized the support from the fans: “The reality today is that Central is growing more every day, it looks huge, it can be seen everywhere, wherever we go, we take over, so nothing, I think things are more than fine.”
"Only one wins," the message for the fans
In light of the criticism and boos that arise in some matches, Di María asked for perspective and reminded that it is not always possible to achieve the expected results.
“Only one wins, that’s the reality of football, only one wins,” he affirmed. He added: “Unfortunately, the hope that people had with the Libertadores was the same as we had, the same hope with the Copa Argentina, the same that we had. But only one wins and sometimes you have a bad game and things don’t go well and you end up out, I think football is like that.”
The Rosario native also highlighted the difficulty of the local tournament: “We are going through a very good moment and I say it this way because you see what Argentine football is, anyone can beat anyone, it’s 100% competitive, it’s not easy to win, it’s not easy to have 3, 4 consecutive matches with victories.”
Di María assured that he understands the demands of the fans, although he reminded that Central still has objectives ahead. “Nothing, we have in our minds that we still have the tournament, that we still have the annual, that we are 6 points away, that we are also within the top 8,” he explained.
And he was emphatic about his personal ambition: “I am the first one who wants to win, who doesn’t like to lose at all, who came back because I want to keep being a champion, who wants to keep winning things.”
The International Supercup, another objective
Di María also spoke about the challenges that Central has ahead and focused on the International Supercup, although he asked to think first about immediate commitments. “Well, yes we have the Supercup, we have the championship, but as I always say, one game at a time. Now we have our minds on Tigres and so on,” he explained.
Regarding the final that the team will have ahead, he added: “I think the final will come. We know it’s already there, that the date is set, that everything is ready, so nothing, we have to think about each game. And hopefully that final will be a new title for this club, we will try to do our best as we always do.”
His gesture with the shirt seller
Another highlighted moment of the conference was when Di María shared how he helped a Central shirt seller who had suffered the theft of his merchandise. “I got up, saw everything that had happened and my wife was the one who told me, it would be nice to take a shirt,” he recounted.
He then explained that his wife took care of bringing clothing to the man: “Obviously, I can’t go myself to deliver the shirt, it’s much more complicated, but nothing, she took the shirts for the kid, for the dad.”
Di María also celebrated the outcome of the situation: “After all the help he received, we learned that he was able to pay off his house, to have more shirts to sell, the club also provided him with a lot of clothing. And nothing, I think all of that ended up being something, after everything they went through and the ugly moment they lived, it ended up being very nice.”
The physical discomfort he still carries
The forward also referred to his physical condition and acknowledged that he continues to deal with the pubalgia that has been affecting him. “No, it’s still there, it’s still bothering me, but nothing, I’m managing it, I’m feeling better every day,” he said. He added: “It’s day by day, work by work.”
On how he copes with the pain, he explained: “Sometimes there are days when I feel very good, there are days when I wake up and I’m in a lot of pain, but nothing, I’m managing it, the coaching staff knows it, they support me in that sense too.”
"That’s the beauty of Argentine football"
Di María also valued the reception he received since his return to Argentine football, although he emphasized that once the match starts, admiration is set aside. “I think that’s the beauty of Argentine football, that you have that, at first it was just warming up, getting applause, gratitude, the plaques, and when the match starts, everything ends. I’m the HDP, just like all my teammates,” he expressed with laughter.
The world champion admitted that he did not imagine living such an experience upon his return: “Honestly, I didn’t think it would be like this, I’m being honest, I didn’t think I would live everything I’m living, what I experience day by day, what I live in Rosario.” In that sense, he emphasized that his goal has always been to return to enjoy a more peaceful life: “In the end, I came back for that, I came back to be happy in that way.”
A return meant to enjoy
Finally, Di María made it clear again that his return to Central is linked to a personal desire he had for a long time. “The truth is that the dream is not only of the people but mine as well. My dream of wanting to return, of wanting to play in Argentine football, I wanted to enjoy as I said before every stadium, to be able to enjoy every match,” he affirmed.
He also assured that he wants to take advantage of every opportunity to play: “I came back for that, to play every match. I want to enjoy every match, every minute, to make it huge, outside, that’s what makes me happy.”
Regarding his present and what’s to come, he closed with a message of unity: “Here I am very happy, I am very content, I have already said it. And nothing, all I want is for the people to stay with us, they won’t die, we will try to achieve what remains of the championship, of the final, to achieve everything that can be achieved, I am the first one who wants to do it, I came back for that and nothing, I also want to thank everyone for being here today and hopefully we all continue together.”
