ANGEL DI MARIA was so desperate to move to Benfica he was not bothered about his salary, according to the club’s president.
Benfica’s chief Rui Costa confirmed the 35-year-old would play for “any euro you’ll give me” for the Champions League contenders.
Fabrizio Romano revealed on Twitter Costa’s comments about how Di Maria was eager to play for the Primeira Liga side and was not concerned about his wage.
He tweeted: “Rui Costa: ‘Di María’s salary doesn’t go over the salary cap, he came without any signing bonus’.
“He didn’t want to know what his salary would be, he didn’t even ask for another euro.
“He told me: ‘I really want to play for Benfica for any euro you’ll give me’.”
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The midfielder signed with Benfica from Juventus and has so far scored four goals in five appearances.
This is the Argentine ace’s second debut for the club and he received an incredible welcome after re-signing for Benfica 13 years after leaving for Real Madrid.
Di Maria quit Juventus after just 12 months in Serie A last month.
He moved to Juve last summer after leaving Paris Saint-Germain following seven years in the French capital.
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In 2014 he joined Manchester United but he would spend just one year at Old Trafford, later complaining about the bad weather and calling Louis van Gaal the “worst coach” he has ever had.
Now the 2022 World Cup winner is back at the club where it all began for him in Europe on a one-year deal.
Benfica won the Primeira Liga title for the first time since 2019 last term and reached the Champions League quarter-finals.
Fans took to Twitter to react to the news with excitement about the Argentine star.
One fan tweeted: “Great news! Di Maria is a great player and I’m sure he will be a huge asset to Benfica. He’s also down to earth.”
Another added: “That is one of the player i respect the most. Always hard working and giving everything on the field on every match.”
A third wrote: “That’s the kind of dedication and love for the game that truly sets players like Di María apart.”
While other fans seemed to dig at stars who have made a move to Saudi Arabia including Cristiano Ronaldo.
One fan said: “Unlike Ronaldo & them Saudi Arabia hustlers.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
