After leaving Juventus as a free agent, Angel Di Maria joined Benfica.
Due to their financial struggles and lack of Champions League football, the Bianconeri let the forward leave. The 35-year-old winger has committed to the Premier League champions for the duration of a one-year contract, which runs through 2024.
It’s a homecoming for Di Maria to be back with Benfica. He had previously played for the team from 2007 to 2010, but left to pursue his illustrious career.
He transferred to Real Madrid after an outstanding World Cup performance in 2010.
De Maria achieved outstanding success, winning the Champions League, La Liga, and two domestic championships.
The next year, Di Maria moved on to play for Manchester United in the Premier League, where he won the FA Cup.
He transferred to Paris Saint-Germain, where Les Parisiens gave him further success. Before leaving the Ligue 1 champions in 2022, he won 18 championships there.
Last season, Di Maria played for Serie A team Juventus and, despite dealing with ailments, had a respectable year.
The Argentine maestro has his sights set on a fresh challenge in well-known territory, though.
Nicolas Otamendi, a personal friend and fellow countryman who was a member of Argentina’s team that won the 2022 World Cup, and Di Maria will reunite.
Benfica has spent little time bolstering their team in preparation for the upcoming season, despite beating FC Porto to the Primeira Liga crown last year.
They have already signed Feyenoord’s Orkun Kokcu. Their stand-in for Enzo Fernandez, who left for Chelsea during the January transfer window, is the Turkish playmaker.
They have since recruited Di Maria, who will provide them a seasoned flanking option.
