Di María Returns to Rosario Central After 18 Years Abroad

Ángel Di María is returning to Rosario Central. The club made the news official on May 29 with a video posted to social media, captioned “Our story still has pages to be written.” The post, shared simultaneously by the player, confirmed that Di María is back in Rosario after arriving from Portugal on a private flight. He will join Central as a free agent once his contract with Benfica expires on June 30.

The 37-year-old winger ended his second stint with Benfica in tears after a 3-1 loss to Sporting Lisbon in the Portuguese Cup final. He came off the bench and said goodbye to the club where he had also played from 2007 to 2010. Benfica also lost the league title to Sporting after two draws in the final rounds. Di María had multiple lucrative offers from abroad, but ultimately chose to fulfill a long-standing personal goal: retiring at his boyhood club.

The deal was orchestrated by Central president Gonzalo Belloso, who had been in contact with Di María throughout the past year. In 2024, his return fell through after his family received threats in Funes. This time, the circumstances changed, and the player felt secure enough to come back. A recent personal milestone—the birth of his first niece—also helped tip the scales in favor of the emotional homecoming.

Di María played 39 matches for Rosario Central’s senior team between 2005 and 2007, scoring six goals and providing two assists. He was transferred to Benfica in 2007 and went on to play for Real Madrid, Manchester United, PSG, and Juventus, winning 36 titles, including the 2022 World Cup, two Copa Américas, and an Olympic gold medal. He will wear the number 11 shirt and be coached by Ariel Holan, who previously expressed interest in signing him.

He is expected to join Central after playing the Club World Cup with Benfica in the United States. The Portuguese side will debut on June 16 against Boca Juniors. Rosario Central, eliminated in the Apertura round of 16, now enters the Clausura campaign with renewed hopes—and the return of one of Argentina’s most decorated players as its marquee signing.