Angel di María and His Family are Facing Death Threats
The family of Argentinean Angel di María received a threatening message at their house near Rosario, his hometown, which has been experiencing a surge in violence associated with drug trafficking in recent weeks.
The relatives of the Benfica player were at a residential area in the town of Funes (province of Santa Fe) when a vehicle threw a threatening message around 2:30 a.m. (05:30 GMT).
Although official sources in Rosario did not disclose the message's content to avoid escalating "social turmoil," local media reported a text threatening to kill "a family member" of the footballer.
The winger is currently with the Argentine national team preparing for friendly matches in the United States. In the previous match against El Salvador, where he captained the team in Lionel Messi's absence, he played a crucial role in the 3-0 victory by providing an assist to Cristian Romero for the first goal.
With this assist, he further solidified his legacy with the national team, surpassing Diego Armando Maradona as the second-highest assist provider and trailing only Messi.
Coincidentally, the captain of the Argentine national team, who lifted the World Cup in Qatar 2022, has also experienced threats against his family, as relatives of his wife Antonela Roccuzzo received a threatening message in March 2023.
Due to the recent escalation of drug-related crimes, including the random killings of four citizens, the Argentine government has deployed federal forces to coordinate with provincial and local police and has increased military presence for logistical support.
"There is an unwavering commitment to fight against drug trafficking," stated Defense Minister Luis Petri last week, announcing the deployment of armed forces in Rosario.
Rosario Central Football Club, where Di María began his professional career in 2005, issued a statement vehemently condemning the threats against the player from their youth academy.
"We feel aggrieved and harmed because such violent actions directly undermine the economy and sporting success of clubs," the club expressed.
The institution emphasized that "we cannot allow anyone to intimidate footballers or threaten them or their families, who are the main protagonists of sports events, nor can we tolerate violence against any member of the football family."
