The left-footed wizard is leaving the club after one season.
“Angel Di Maria (35, Juventus) will leave the club this summer,” British outlet Sky Sports reported on July 7. Di Maria had announced his departure on social media on June 6.
Di Maria is one of the sharpest left-footed players in Europe. His accurate kicks and flashy dribbling allow him to cut through defenses. He is considered a versatile flanker and has played for some of the biggest clubs in the world, including Real Madrid (Spain), Manchester United (England), and Paris Saint-Germain (France).
He joined Juventus ahead of this season. Despite his young age, he had a satisfying season. In total, he made 40 appearances, scoring eight goals and providing seven assists. Last December, he won the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar with Argentina. He scored a goal and an assist in the final against France. He played a crucial role in the win alongside Lionel Messi.
However, despite his decent performances, the end is near. That’s because Juventus had a disappointing season. They finished seventh in the Italian Serie A, just enough to qualify for the UEFA Europa Conference League (UECL). In this season’s UEFA Europa League (UEL), they were eliminated in the last four by Sevilla.
There was also the variable of a point deduction. Juventus has been embroiled in a “bookkeeping scandal” since last year. They were accused of overvaluing players in the transfer market to gain financial advantage. The club was eventually found guilty and punished with a 10-point deduction for the season. Juventus couldn’t make up for it and finished seventh.
The failure to win the trophy opened Di Maria’s mind. In a social media post, he wrote: “We fought to win the title. A difficult and complicated time is over,” he wrote on social media.
Di Maria will become a free agent this summer. He will not incur a transfer fee. He has been linked to FC Barcelona (Spain) and “parent club” Benfica (Portugal), according to local media. 스포츠토토