ligue1.com takes a closer look at PSG's Argentinian genius-in-residence at the Parc des Princes.

Fountain of football talent

There must be something in the water in Rosario. The city — located 300 kilometres north-west of the Argentinian capital Buenos Aires -- could boast the best home-grown five-a-side team in the world. Just imagine Di Maria joined by PSG teammate Mauro Icardi, ex-Argentina international Maxi Rodriguez, Atletico Madrid forward Angel Correa and the one and only genius of Barcelona Lionel Messi, all Rosario-born. No goalkeeper I hear you say? Ask yourself: Would they need one? In the unlikely event of them requiring any tactical advice or a motivational team talk, Argentina's 1978 FIFA World Cup-winning coach Cesar Luis Menotti, Leeds United's ex-Olympique de Marseille boss Marcelo Bielsa and former Argentina and Barcelona coach Gerardo Martino also all hail from the city.

It was there the hyperactive Di Maria was signed up for football aged just three, and was transferred a year later to Rosario Central in exchange for 35 footballs. It proved a great investment for his local club as his price tag was a far heftier €6 million when he left them for Benfica in summer 2007 having made his first-team debut just 18 months before.

Not that El Fideo — the Noodle — has ever forgotten his roots. Before he left for Lisbon, he and six friends had "Being born in La Perdriel [Di Maria's Rosario neighbourhood] was and will be the best thing that happened to me in my life" tattooed on their arms. Take a look at Di Maria's left forearm, and you'll see it for yourself.

WATCH: PSG's Angel Di Maria gives Nice a masterclass

Maradona praise

Di Maria's father, Miguel, worked in a coal mine for 16 years before success as a footballer brought his son enough money to allow his dad to give up his hazardous and demanding job. Angel's outstanding progress at Benfica soon caught the eye of planet football, and — given his nationality and with Messi yet to become fully fledged world superstar — questions were asked whether Di Maria could be the man his country had been looking for: the new Maradona.

"Angel has the quality to be a worldwide superstar within the next two years," said Diego himself when he was picking Di Maria for the Argentina national team in 2009. "I have always followed his career closely and his level has increased enormously since he’s been in Europe."

Just a few months later Di Maria was on his way to Real Madrid, though Messi has rather overshadowed him and many others since. Di Maria did pip the Barcelona legend to his country's Player of the Year award in 2014, though, after his starring role in Madrid's fabled decima, their long sought-after tenth UEFA Champions League triumph.

United move backfires

Hailed 'the new Maradona' by the man himself, Di Maria then rivalled another all-time great, Zinedine Zidane, when he moved to Manchester United in 2014 for €75 million, the same amount Madrid had paid Juventus for the fantastique Frenchman. 

The price tag and the fact he was given the number 7 shirt previously worn by United legends David Beckham, Eric Cantona, Bryan Robson and George Best weighed heavy on Di Maria, just as it would Memphis Depay when he moved to Old Trafford 12 months later.

The arrival of the now-Olympique Lyonnais man followed Di Maria's departure for Paris, just a year after signing a five-year deal with United. It was a 12-month ordeal that left its mark on Di Maria.

"Di Maria hates United," revealed Marcin Bulka, PSG's young Polish goalkeeper recently. "When something comes on the TV relating to Manchester United, he asks for the channel to be quickly turned over."

Finish at PSG?

When Di Maria arrived in Paris in summer 2015, he had a reputation to re-polish. He wasted very little time in doing so. Ten Ligue 1 goals and a league-high 18 assists represented his best and joint-best career returns respectively, and he came into the 2019-20 campaign with 39 goals and 43 assists in 118 appearances for the Rouge-et-Bleu.

"I'm very happy here," he said when asked  whether he would like to stay in the French capital beyond the end of his current contract in 2021. "The club knows what I want, I know what the club wants. I'd like to continue here. I've always said I'd like to finish my career in Argentina, but I hope my last club in Europe will be PSG."

Red letter day

Imagine, you're preparing for the most important match of your life, you're slightly injured, but want more than anything to play for your country and perhaps — just maybe — be the man to help them lift the World Cup. And then your club tells you not to play. Orders you, in fact.

"When I got the letter, I imagined a lot of things, because they were saying James [Rodriguez] was going to Real Madrid, that he was a player who'd take my place," revealed Di Maria, who — with the Colombian all but on the plane to Madrid — was hoping to shake off a foot problem to face Spain in the 2010 FIFA World Cup final when his club sought to stop him playing.

"I knew they wanted to sell me, so when I got the letter from Real Madrid, I tore it up. Without opening it, I ripped it up. I didn't want to read that or see it. I knew that I was the only one who would make the decision whether or not I played."

In the end, the injury he'd sustained earlier in the tournament in South Africa meant he watched the final from the bench as Andres Iniesta decided the game La Roja's way. But he was right: weeks later, he left Madrid as James came in.

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