Di María: "Benfica gave me everything"

Ángel Di María, a former Benfica player granted an interview to the official UEFA website where he was happy with the direction his career has taken, never forgetting his origins and the club that, as he says, gave him everything.

"Benfica were very important for me and my family. Coming to Europe was a really big step, and Benfica, which is such a big club, gave me everything.  It was like my first home and it gave me so much to keep on winning and to be who I am today", mentioned Di María.

Di María completed there seasons with an eagle on his chest, from 2007/08 to 2009/10. Three seasons with a lot o magic in the pitches.

The winger, who wore the nº. 20 jersey, carried out 124 matches and scored 15 goals, however, there was a goal that traveled the world and remains in the memory of the player and the Benfica fans. On December 17, 2009, Benfica hosted AEK Athens, in a match from the Europa League. The eagles won by 2-1, but the moment of the match happened in the 73^rd minute.

"The truth is I've only scored one rabona goal. And, honestly, it's not easy! I've only scored one and it was very nice because it was against a big team, and I scored it for Benfica, my first team in Europe", he remembered.

Benfica's sporting success in the 2009/10 season gave even more visibility to Di María and catapulted him for adventures in other championships Benfica became National Champion and the left-footed player moved to the Spanish capital to represent Real Madrid. Four seasons playing for "merengues" which culminated in the Champions League title.

The 32-year-old player had a spell in the English Premier League. He represented Manchester United for one season (2014/15) and then he moved to a new challenge. Di María is one of the main pillars of PSG, and already has 217 matches for the Parisians and 81 goals scored.

Text: Diogo Nascimento

Photos: Archive / SL Benfica