After a rocky start to the campaign, Angel Di Maria’s free transfer to Juventus came under a lot of scrutiny, and perhaps with good reason. The veteran couldn’t stay off the treatment table, while his reckless mistake against Monza added insult to injury.
Nonetheless, a World Cup medal can do wonders for a player’s morale, even for someone who has collected trophies everywhere they’ve gone.
Since the turn of the year, Di María has undoubtedly established himself as the main talisman of Juventus. His stupendous display in Nantes was just the latest testimonial to the prowess of the eternal star.
But the most curious aspect of the veteran’s current exploits is his playing position. The former Benfica player is, in every way, one of the best wingers of his generation.
So how did he end up excelling as an attacking midfielder, almost operating in a free role, a Trequartista if you will?
Some will consider it a Max Allegri coup, while others will call it an inadvertent discovery born of desperation.
But regardless of the manager’s role, the player’s splendid performances in his newly adopted position have become one of the most exciting stories in a miserable campaign in Turin plagued by problems on and off the pitch.
So, witnessing the Argentine’s fabulous display in France, one might have wondered how his career would have unfolded had he acted as the main point of reference for his club and country throughout his career.
Yes, Di Maria has always been cherished by fans, purists and pundits alike, yet he spent his career acting as a glorified sidekick to the game’s biggest superstars. While Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are the most prominent examples, we can expand the list by adding the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Neymar and Kylian Mbappé.
Now surely there is nothing wrong with a highly talented footballer acting as a winger. After all, Messi and Ronaldo often find themselves in wide positions on paper.
However, GOAT nominees have often been exempt from defensive duties, while Di Maria always had to step back and insert himself into the second defensive line. Furthermore, the 35-year-old was never able to become a benchmark while playing alongside these superstars; instead, he was always considered to be an excellent addition to the support team.
Whether Di María lost more than he gained while serving as a teammate remains a matter of debate. After all, his top-tier teammates surely helped him pick up a trophy or two.
Nonetheless, the 2014 Champions League final is arguably the best representation of his career. The current Juventus man was arguably the man of the match, leading Real Madrid towards the famous Décima.
For his part, Ronaldo -who was not enjoying his best moment- added the fourth goal from the penalty spot against an already dispersed Atlético side. The Portuguese stripped off his jersey and delivered the trademark celebration of him, and guess whose six-pack was all over the front pages the next morning?
In conclusion, Di María has received great recognition for his career achievements, but it remains something overlooked. He sure did collect large amounts of cash, but it could be argued that he has been relatively underpaid.
At this point, we’re still not sure if this veteran will be able to stay in shape for the remainder of the season, and his future beyond June remains a mystery.
However, Di Maria’s black and white version is simply picturesque, so let’s enjoy it while it lasts.
