SUMMARY
- Angel Di Maria and his family received serious death threats.
- The threats are believed to stem from ongoing drug-related violence in Rosario.
In a shocking series of events, Argentine superstar Angel Di Maria and his family have received death threats. Di Maria is currently on national team duty as Argentina defeated El Salvador 3-0 in the United States of America a couple of days ago. However, with rumors emerging of Di Maria wanting to end his career in Argentina, his family was threatened by a cartel in Rosario.
Angel Di Maria, who currently plays for the Portuguese side Benfica, has recently suggested that he wants to end his career in Argentina. Di Maria, who’s played for some of the biggest clubs in the world like Real Madrid, Manchester United, and so on, has expressed his desire to retire at his boyhood club Rosario Central. However, Di Maria might put his plans on hold after a cartel left a message for him outside his family home in Rosario.
🚨😥 BREAKING: Ángel Di María’s parents and sister have suffered threats by some cartel in Rosario!
“Tell your son Ángel not to return to Rosario, because otherwise we will ruin everything by kil**ng a family member. Not even [Santa Fé governor] Pullaro will save you.”
— All About Argentina 🛎🇦🇷 (@AlbicelesteTalk) March 25, 2024
According to reports, a car left a sign outside Di Maria’s family home on the outskirts of Rosario. The message read, “Tell your son Angel not to come back to Rosario because we will kill a family member.” Moreover, the message also stated that not even Rosario’s provincial governor, Maximiliano Pullaro, could save the Argentine star’s family.
Lastly, the message also warned that they leave bullets and dead bodies behind, and not paper notes. The threat received by Di Maria’s family is due to an ongoing wave of drug-related violence in Di Maria’s hometown, Rosario. Earlier last year, Argentine skipper Lionel Messi who also hails from Rosario faced a similar threat by a cartel.
Lionel Scaloni offers full support to Angel Di Maria
Meanwhile, Argentina national team coach Lionel Scaloni has offered Angel Di Maria his full support in the aftermath of the latter’s family receiving death threats. Scaloni told a reporter, “Di Maria knows that he has our full support for whatever he needs.” The 2022 World Cup-winning coach also added that he feels the best thing that Di Maria could do to relax is to focus on playing soccer.
After Argentina’s 3-0 victory against El Salvador, the World Champions will now take on Costa Rica later tonight. In the absence of Lionel Messi who is currently sidelined due to a hamstring injury, Di Maria has assumed the captaincy. Currently, Angel Di Maria is yet to officially comment on the threat and is reportedly taking some time to evaluate the situation.
Lionel Messi faced a similar death threat to Angel Di Maria last year
Back in March last year, a few gunmen opened fire on a supermarket owned by Lionel Messi‘s in-laws in Rosario. According to reports and statements from the police, two gunmen arrived on a motorcycle and fired around two dozen bullets into the supermarket in the early morning. While no one was hurt in the attack, the gunmen left a cardboard with a message for Messi.
🚨In a supermarket belonging to Antonella’s family was shot with 14 bullets, and criminals left this🗣️: “Messi, we are waiting for you, Javkin (Mayor of Rosario) is also a drug dealer and will not help you.”
Mfs think they will touch a hair on Messi and survive 60 seconds?. pic.twitter.com/zGdU1exJzN
— FCB Albiceleste (@FCBAlbiceleste) March 2, 2023
The message read, “Messi, we’re waiting for you.” The message also issued a warning to the Inter Miami star that he shouldn’t depend on Rosario mayor Pablo Javkin to protect him since the latter was also a “drug trafficker“. Similar to Di Maria, Messi didn’t make an official comment about the incident. However, with both Messi and Di Maria receiving death threats, there is a growing concern regarding the safety of the two Argentine soccer stars.