Angel Di Maria Argentine footballer, attacking midfielder Date of Birth: 14.02.1988 Country: Argentina

1. Early Life and Career Beginnings
2. Benfica and Olympic Success
3. Real Madrid Era
4. Manchester United and Record-Breaking Transfer
5. Paris Saint-Germain
6. International Career

Early Life and Career Beginnings

Born on February 14, 1988, in Rosario, Argentina, Ángel Di María grew up in a modest family. With his parents working at a coal yard, Di María and his two sisters assisted in their labor from a young age.

Recommended by a doctor due to his energetic nature, Di María began playing football at the age of 7 for his local club, Atlético El Torito. At 13, he joined Rosario Central, where he made his professional debut at 17 against Independiente in 2005.

In 2007, Di María caught the attention of European clubs with his impressive performance and three goals at the FIFA U-20 World Cup. He eventually agreed to a transfer to Russian side Rubin Kazan but ultimately changed his mind at the last moment.

Benfica and Olympic Success

Following his standout performance at the U-20 World Cup, Di María was acquired by Portuguese club Benfica for €6 million in 2007. Benfica president Luís Filipe Vieira hailed Di María as the perfect replacement for Simão Sabrosa.

In 2008, Di María reached the pinnacle of his early career by winning a gold medal at the Beijing Olympics. He scored the match-winning goal against the Netherlands in the quarterfinals and the lone goal against Nigeria in the final, securing Argentina's second Olympic football triumph.

Real Madrid Era

Real Madrid officially signed Di María on June 28, 2010, for a six-year term and a transfer fee reportedly around €25 million. The Argentine expressed his excitement about playing for one of the world's top clubs and his hopes of winning the FIFA World Cup with Argentina while at Madrid.

Di María made his debut for Real Madrid in the opening match of the 2010-11 La Liga season against Mallorca. He scored his first goal for the club against Real Sociedad in September and added another in the UEFA Champions League against Auxerre.

In December 2010, Di María's three assists against Sevilla and one against Lyon in the Champions League helped Real Madrid overcome the round of 16 for the first time in seven years. He also contributed a third goal in Madrid's 4-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur in the quarterfinals.

In the 2011 Copa del Rey final against Barcelona, Di María was sent off in extra time but played a crucial role in Cristiano Ronaldo's winning goal, securing his first trophy with Real Madrid.

During his time at Madrid, Di María received contract extensions, requested a pay increase, and played a key part in the club's 2012 Supercopa de España triumph over Barcelona.

Manchester United and Record-Breaking Transfer

On August 26, 2014, Di María joined Manchester United for a British record transfer fee of £59.7 million. He made 32 appearances for the Red Devils, scoring four goals and assisting on three others. Despite showing glimpses of his talent, his time at United was considered underwhelming.

Paris Saint-Germain

In 2015, Di María moved to Paris Saint-Germain for a fee of €63 million. He has won numerous domestic trophies with the Parisian club and established himself as a key player in their attacking lineup.

International Career

Di María has represented Argentina at various youth levels, winning the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2007 and the Olympic gold medal in 2008. He made his senior international debut in 2008 and has since participated in two FIFA World Cups (2010 and 2014).