Angel Di Maria receives death threats in Argentina

The family of Argentina international Angel di Maria received a threatening message early on Monday morning at the house he owns near Rosario, his hometown, which has seen an upsurge in drug-related violence in recent weeks.

The Benfica player's relatives were in a housing estate in the town of Funes (Santa Fe province) when a vehicle threw a threatening message at around 2.30am (05.30 GMT).

Although official sources in Rosario consulted by 'EFE' did not divulge the content of the message so as not to increase the "social commotion", local media published a text threatening to kill "a relative" of the footballer. In fact, 'Infobae' published the content: "Tell your son Angel not to come back to Rosario because, if not, we'll 'shit' him by killing a relative. Not even Pullaro is going to save you. We don't throw papers. We throw bullets and dead people".

The winger is currently training with the Argentina national team for the friendly matches in the United States; in the previous one, played against El Salvador and in which he played as captain in the absence of Lionel Messi, he played a leading role in the 3-0 victory by providing an assist to Cristian Romero for the first goal.

With this, he increased his legend with the 'Albiceleste' by surpassing Diego Armando Maradona as the second top assistant of the national team and placing himself behind Messi.

 

March 25, 2024

Indeed, the captain of the 'Albiceleste' that lifted the World Cup in Qatar 2022 also knows what it is like to receive threats in his family environment, since in March 2023 relatives of his wife Antonela Roccuzzo received a poster addressed to the 'Pulga'.

Due to an upsurge in drug-related crime in recent weeks, including the murder of four citizens at random, the Argentine government decided to send federal forces to act in coordination with the provincial and local police, and to add military personnel to provide logistical support.

Club Atletico Rosario Central, where Di Maria made his professional debut in 2005, issued a statement to "emphatically" condemn the threats against the player who came through their youth academy.

"We feel aggrieved, damaged and harmed because this type of violent actions directly threaten the economy and sporting success of the clubs," the club said.

The institution affirmed that "it cannot be allowed that they want to intimidate football players or attempt against them and/or their families, who are the main protagonists of sporting events, nor can violence be allowed against any member of the football family".