Di Maria TRANSFER: Angel Di Maria joined Juventus at the start of last year on a one-year contract. As the contract expires this season, both Juventus and Di Maria were positive about the extension of his contract. However, as the season’s end nears, more complications are arising. As per reports, talks between both parties are now breaking down. Hence, Di Maria could be leaving the club at the end of the season. He could even join his national teammate Lionel Messi at Barcelona. Follow Serie A LIVE Updates on InsideSport.IN.
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Angel Di Maria signed a one-year contract with Juventus in July, 2022. However, his season at the club has been shaky at best due to injuries. He has missed 17 games with Juventus due to different injury issues. Di Maria missed a month’s games because of a tear in the abductor muscle. He further suffered ankle injuries twice, a thigh injury once, a calf injury once, and a biceps femoris muscle injury once. In total, he has still appeared in 23 games throughout all competitions for the club this season.
He has scored 8 goals in all competitions and 4 of these goals came in the Europa League. He also gave 7 assists among which, he gave 3 in the Champions League. It is quite conspicuous that the World Cup winner’s form declined due to so many unfortunate injuries in a single season. Otherwise, he could have contributed much more for Juventus. However, Juventus are paying him a salary of €7 million per season. Hence, they think his performance is not justifying the salary amount.
There were rumours that Di Maria could be joining Lionel Messi if Messi joins Barcelona before the start of next season. Lionel Messi’s contract with PSG also expires at the end of this season. Even though the message from his entourage has been that no decision on Messi’s future has been taken yet, there is still a huge chance that he could come back to Barcelona. If that happens, Di Maria could join his Argentine teammate in Spain. However, Barcelona have to fix their financial issues for that to happen.
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Barcelona are yet to fix their financial woes that started 3-4 years ago. Lionel Messi left the club 2 seasons ago because of this reason and the hindrance to his comeback remains to be the same thing. Even if Leo Messi takes a pay cut on his salary at Barcelona, Barcelona will still have to cut down their wage bill a significant amount. La Liga are yet to give them permission to bring back Messi to Barcelona. If Di Maria does decide to join Barcelona, he will be coming as a free agent which suits the club’s financial issues.
Juventus have been going through their own issues as well. They were accused of false accounting and financial irregularities in their transfer dealings. As the case progressed, 15 points were cut from the league table and their position dropped significantly in the Serie A table. They got back the points, they are now headed for next year’s Champions League. To get ready for the Champions League, they will have to replace Di Maria as soon as possible and rumours are, they could bring in Dejan Kulusevski.
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