With multiple confirmations coming in of Juventus deciding against offering Ángel Di María a new contract, Get Italian Football News spoke with TuttoJuve.com journalist Mirko Di Natale to get a better look on the situation.
Ángel Di María joined Juventus for free last summer after his contract at Paris Saint Germain expired. Since then, the 35-year-old World Cup winner has scored eight goals and given seven assists for the Bianconeri. However, according to multiple sources, Juventus won’t offer Di María a new contract.
“It is a decision that was taken after carefully observing the latest performances”, Di Natale says. “The managment was working on the renewal of the contract, there had also been some contacts – which initially seemed positive – with his entourage during the last few weeks. But marriages always have to come from both sides.”
Inter and Sevilla
Di Natale names the match against Inter in the Italian Cup as one of the matches that didn’t impress the management. “There had been some discontent about his performance, he hadn’t been so strong”, he says. “The two matches against Sevilla, especially the one in the Sánchez Pizjuán, changed the mind of the management who, I recall, were initally working on his renewal.”
Turin
According to Di Natale, Di María is happy in Turin. “The people I’ve talked to have always told me that he doesn’t like changing surroundings too much. But it’s May and he hasn’t made a definitive decision yet. Perhaps, I think he wanted to wait and see if there could be another possibility in Europe.”
The fact that Napoli Sporting Director Cristiano Giuntoli is close to joining Juventus and Massimiliano Allegri’s future at the club is in doubt have nothing to do with the Di María decision, as far as Di Natale is concerned. Potential names to replace the Argentinian are unknown at the moment. “It’s difficult to name a substitute, because to date there are no concrete negotiations”, Di Natale says. “But Juventus, even in such complicated times, are working on the future.”
Jurre van Wanrooij | GIFN
