Di María rules out retirement, sets sights on Rosario Central's Annual Table push

Nobody even had to ask him directly about retirement. He made it clear on his own, plainly and without hedging, at the press conference: Angel Di Maria has no plans to hang up his boots. Especially not now, in the middle of Rosario Central's best run in years.

"I don't want to retire and I'm not going to retire. I'm happy, playing in a competitive league and enjoying Argentine soccer," Fideo said in front of the microphones, shutting down any speculation about his immediate future at the Canalla.

The captain didn't hide his pride in what the club has built since his return. "We're going through a great moment at Central, playing in every competition and winning titles. It keeps growing every day," he said, pointing to a stretch that has combined international competition, the domestic tournament and a squad that keeps gaining experience together.

Asked about the hopes that fell short along the way, with the Copa Libertadores and the Copa Argentina both slipping away, he was candid: "The excitement people had about the Libertadores and the Copa Argentina was the same excitement we had, but that's soccer for you." There was no drama or resignation in those words, just the perspective of someone who has seen everything in European soccer and knows plans don't always work out exactly as hoped.

The Annual Table, the goal still standing

With those two competitions already decided, Central's focus now shifts to the Annual Table, where the team remains among the top eight. Di Maria was blunt about what he still has left to give: "I came back because I want to be a champion, I want to keep winning things and keep getting Central into continental competitions." That, in a nutshell, is the deeper reason behind his return to the club that raised him.

The captain also addressed the groin injury that has been bothering him for a while now: "It's still bothering me, I'm managing it. Little by little it seems to be going away, but it's day by day." It's a discomfort he plays through without it fully holding him back, though it requires careful handling week to week.

Asked about the criticism some of his teammates have been getting from fans, he called for unity for the rest of the year: "I know the fans are going to back us."

There was also room to talk about his relationship with Newell's fans, something that has surprised him since he returned to Argentine soccer: "I didn't think I'd experience everything I'm experiencing. At first there's applause, there's recognition, and then once the match starts all of that goes away, that's the beautiful thing about Argentine soccer." He added: "I run into a lot of Newell's fans who thank me and ask for photos."

To close, Di Maria circled back to the real reason behind his return: "My dream of coming back wasn't just about the fans, it was mine too. I wanted to enjoy every stadium, every match in Argentine soccer. I came back to play every game, that's what makes me happy."