Recently, Ángel Di María, an Argentine legend playing for Rosario Central, gave an interview to Camel Live, during which he talked about various topics such as his own situation and the current state of the Argentina national team.
On Argentina National Team Head Coach Lionel Scaloni
We should give him a lifetime contract. Just look at all the achievements he has made, his performance as the national team’s coach, and the young players he has developed... Take Thiago Almada, who came from Major League Soccer (MLS)... Now he has become a starter for Argentina and shines brightly in every game... It’s not just about the achievements he has attained, but also his efforts in nurturing young players and his contributions to the U20 team. This is truly fantastic, and he definitely deserves recognition.
He is someone I care about a lot. He is worthy of this honor. He has given his all to bring the national team to where it is today. He deserves to coach for many more years.
On Whether Argentina Has a Chance to Win the Next World Cup
Argentina has always been a strong contender for the World Cup title. That’s a fact, and this jersey also demands that we live up to this expectation. All this success and stability... is owed solely to one person, and that is Scaloni and his coaching staff. It is he who pushes you to give your all. If he thinks you are not performing well, he will leave you out of the match squad and let the players in better form take the field. He observes every day and makes the best decisions for the team. The players all know that nothing is taken for granted—even if you slack off a little, you will be substituted. That’s why the national team has been able to maintain such a high level consistently.
On His Decision to Retire from the Argentina National Team After Winning the 2024 Copa América
I think the timing was perfect, and looking back now, it was the right decision. I believe these young guys are ready to move forward. A new generation of Argentine players is emerging, such as Nico Paz, Alejandro Garnacho, Valentín Mastantuono, and Thiago (Almada)... I think they need playing time to stay in top form for the World Cup. My idea was that after the Copa América, my national team career would come to an end. The young players have already adapted, and some of them can even help others get acclimated... This makes me very happy. It has been an honor for me to witness the growth of this national team.
On Lionel Messi, Who May Have Played His Last World Cup Qualifier for Argentina in the Match Against Venezuela
I met him. As I said, Messi hasn’t retired yet—he still has time left. This will be his last World Cup qualifying cycle, but he still has the World Cup to play in, and he will definitely feature in a few more national team games afterward. That’s why I didn’t go to watch that match, because I didn’t consider it his farewell game. I talked to him and sent him messages. This is not a farewell. The World Cup is coming up, and there are also friendly matches... Messi still has time. I’m very glad that he can continue playing. To me, he is the greatest player of all time, and I don’t think anyone can surpass all the achievements he has made. He is Argentine, and that is our pride. I’m very happy to have played with him.
On His Hope to See Messi Play in Argentina
It’s hard to persuade him to come, really hard. This is a very personal decision, and many factors can influence it. He is the best player in history, so making such a decision is not easy. But obviously, if he asks me how it is here, I will tell him it’s great. Playing football in Argentina, in his hometown city, is an extremely wonderful thing. You always want the best for him.
However, this also means Messi might join Newell’s Old Boys, the bitter rival of Rosario Central.
This goes beyond the boundaries of football, just like when Leandro Paredes returned to Boca Juniors—you know there is a strong rival on the opposite side... But I’m very happy that they have come to play in Argentine football. When players like Germán Pezzella, Nahuel Molina Montiel, and Marcos Acuña came back, I already hoped to do the same, and now I have finally made it happen.
Being able to return here in the latter stages of my career and compete at a high level... It’s not easy to make a difference here. Of course, I would love to see any World Cup champions or key players of the Argentina national team play here.
On the Latter Stages of His Own Career
It’s like a perfect movie with no ending—it just keeps going. At the beginning, I went through hardships, felt powerless and frustrated, until everything started to go smoothly. I would go through all those tough times again just to have such an ending. If the ending is winning a championship with Rosario Central, it will be a perfect movie. I will work hard this year; I still have a one-year contract. If we don’t win this year, we can extend it for another year, haha. We’ll see how things go.
