Di María renews contract until 2025

INTERVIEW

Deal sealed! Sport Lisboa e Benfica and footballer Ángel Di María have renewed their contract for another season. The World Cup-winning forward for Argentina is now in his 5th season with the Manto Sagrado (2007-2010 and 2023-2025).

"I'm happy to be staying at Benfica for another year, to be able to keep wearing this jersey, and I hope we can win the titles that I didn't win last season," said Di María, shortly after signing a new contract with Benfica.

Praised by his teammates for the central role he plays on and off the pitch, the Argentinian international doesn't hide his pride.

"I'm very happy to hear that my teammates talk about me like that. I'm a normal guy who tries to go forward, always win, achieve every goal and I try to motivate my teammates, the younger ones and the others. I'm of an age that gives me some experience, I try to help them and always do my best to win titles," he explained.

In 2023/24, the season that marked his return to Glorioso, he played a direct role in 30 of the team's goals. The player's aim for the new season, he said, is to do even more.

"Yes, I always want more, to improve every year. The individual things aren't what I like most, I like the overall thing more, and hopefully this season will be important for everyone," said the forward, speaking to the club's media.

Regarding Benfica's 2024/25 pre-season, he revealed that he didn't miss the opportunity to follow all the matches, as well as the construction of the squad.

"I've seen all the games, we've got off to a great start. The team is doing a great job, there are a lot of new players, all of which makes me very happy and very hungry to win things. I'm going to do my best to help the team in the best way," he said.

Feeling the emotions and sensations of winning the national title with the Manto Sagrado again is a desire that Di María emphasizes.

"To win the league title for Benfica again would be wonderful. It was a dream I had last season, I didn't manage to achieve it, but I wanted it very much. Life has given me a second chance, and I hope we can achieve that goal, which would be very special for me and for all Benfica fans," shared the left-footed player.

Di María has already won everything in football, and the question arises: what continues to motivate you?

"More, more titles! From the moment I started playing until today, what I've always wanted is to win titles, and when you finish your career that's what remains, what you've won. Every year I want to win, and this year I'm going to try to win more!" he said.

Looking ahead to the upcoming season, Di María recalled the decisive force of the club's fans in supporting the team.

"The fans are always with us, pulling for us at all times so that we can achieve our goals, and surely this year will be very special, they'll be with us and we'll be with them so that we can all be one," he said.

2023/24: A SEASON OF HIGH PERFORMANCE

On a par with the best seasons of his career, Ángel Di María showed a distinctive performance in 2023/24, on his return to Benfica, having played in 48 matches, spread over six competitions, displaying the artistry and quality that allowed him to play a direct part, between goals and assists, in 30 Glorioso goals.

The first game and the first goal of the new cycle, he opened with an eagle on his chest came in the final of the Cândido de Oliveira Super Cup. The world champion helped win the trophy, which he hadn't yet won in his vast career. 

This was followed by 47 games, specifically 28 in the League, where he scored nine goals and made 10 assists in just over 2,200 minutes on the pitch.

He also showed his class in the Champions League. Di María played in five matches, scored one goal and made one assist in around 410 minutes. In the Europa League, he appeared in six matches, scoring four goals and providing one assist in just over 560 minutes. 

Di María also played five games in the Portuguese Cup - he made one assist in around 400 minutes - and three in the League Cup, in which he scored two goals in around 230 minutes.

In total, Di María completed more than 3,800 minutes of play, scored 17 goals and made 13 assists in his 48 games with the eagle on his chest in 2023/24.

The number 11's season ended with a heartfelt and victorious farewell for Argentina, who won the 2024 Copa América. Di María played in five matches and, in the final, he played 116 minutes against Colombia and was voted the match's MVP.

THE CATHEDRAL: EUROPE'S FIRST BIG STAGE

Signed from Argentinian side Rosario Central, Di María joined Benfica in July 2007 and made his debut on August 29, 2007. The Argentine, then 19, played alongside Rui Costa, and the two would play almost 40 games together in the 2007/08 season, marked by the current Benfica President's farewell to the pitch.

In his first season with the eagle on his chest, Di María played in 45 games, scoring one goal and making six assists. In 2008/09, he played in 35 matches, registering four goals and three assists, and won his first trophy for the club, playing in all five matches of the League Cup winning campaign.

The 2009/10 season saw Benfica's (then) number 20 explode. Used in 45 matches, he scored 10 goals and made 17 assists, contributing decisively to the winning campaigns in the Championship and the League Cup.

With multiple successes, this was followed by four full seasons at Real Madrid (2010/11 to 2013/14), one at Manchester United (2014/15), seven at PSG (2015/16 to 2021/22) and one at Juventus (2022/23). Halfway through the season in Italy, Di María was instrumental in winning the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, putting in an excellent display in the final to lead Argentina to their third world title, this time against France.