Di Maria: “At Juve it’s like at home, I’m leaving with a bitter taste”

The adventure at Juventus ends after less than a year Angel DiMaria. A news already anticipated in recent weeks but which has become official with the Argentine’s greeting to the Juventus fans, made through a message on social media. “I have reached the end of a difficult and complicated stage – is Fideo’s initial consideration -. I am leaving with the tranquility of someone who gave everything to help the club continue to win titles, but it was not possible. I am leaving with the bitter taste of not succeeding, but with the happiness of bringing with me many friends of this wonderful locker room of which I was a part”. A season that started with difficulty, with the player’s refusal to indulge Juventus who asked for a two-year contract, some flashes but also a never serene relationship with Allegri, the one who had wanted him in the summer. In his head there has always been the return to Central Rosary to end his career: market rumors, however, suggest that the return to Argentina can wait.

Di Maria, the World Cup and the flare-up at the beginning of 2023

Even if winning, in the words of the Argentine, “wasn’t possible”, it is true that infinitely more was expected from the man of the finals, from the world champion. The fact that Juventus didn’t play any finals this year doesn’t justify the performance definitely below expectations: some of their plays conveyed a sense of omnipotence, others seemed sterile executions without a soul. Perhaps the truth lies somewhere in between, especially in the second half of the season: he started 2023 on the right foot, he enchanted at times and then, when the Juventus crisis began, he melted away like snow in the sun. Probably thinking about his next adventure. Already after the rally, and with the World Cup approaching, Di Maria played in fits and starts, preferring not to force it like all the players involved in Qatar. Seven games played in the league in the first sixteen, stopped by a problem with the adductors, another with the hamstring and by the Monza header, when he got sent off for a reaction foul on Izzo. The best period was the beginning of 2023, when in nine games he scored 3 goals with as many assists in the league, also adding the hat-trick against Nantes in the Europa League and the final 1-0 goal with Freiburg.

The end of the relationship and the unforgivable mistakes

Under the post many certificates of esteem, including that of Dybala, the one who in practice had been called to replace, but also a lot of bitterness for what could have been but which in reality never was, not even remotely. The fans blame the lack of attachment to the cause, even if a few days ago it was Di Maria who brought a fan into line on social media, and above all the serious mistake in front of Bounou in the semi-final of the Europa League with Sevilla. You don’t lose a match for a mistake, but Di Maria had been hired for just that, to decide matches, to beat the opponents with a play: mission failed. The pleasure remains of having been able to enjoy some of his top-level plays, even more precious in the impoverished panorama of today’s Serie A: a little bit for a player with his resume and his salary of 7 million euros net. While for Di Maria the memory to keep will be that of the locker room: “Thanks to all my teammates for the affection they have shown me since the first day, I have always felt at home. A big greeting to all the Juventus players for the their daily affection. A big hug. I carry you in my heart”.