ARGENTINA
Ángel Di María says he will not go to the Olympics with Argentina if they qualify
The former Real Madrid winger has revealed that he will not travel to the Paris Olympic Games with Argentina, should they qualify.
Ángel Di María has confirmed that if Argentina make it to the Olympic Games 2024 in Paris, he will not form a part of the squad.
Many rumours had placed Ángel Di María as a possible member of the Argentina National Team for the Olympic Games in Paris. However, the player confirmed to TyC Sports in Argentina that if his national team were to participate in the upcoming tournament, he would not be a part of the squad.
The winger would be allowed by the rules, set by FIFA, to participate, as all national teams can take a maximum of three players over 23-years-old.
After speculation that both El Fideo and his compatriot Lionel Messi would play for the team coached by former teammate Javier Mascherano, the 35-year-old winger has said no to going if his national team ends up qualifying. The squad still have two games left to play to secure their passage to the tournament, against Chile and Uruguay.
Di María wants to ‘make way for the next generation’
“There are times when you have to step aside and make way for the next generation.” This was Di María’s response to explain the reason for his decision. In addition to that, he also added that his decision to retire from his national team after the Copa América, which is also this year, still stands.
In the interview the player also opened up on his future and alluded to a possible return to his country with Rosario Central, the team that saw him grow and that he still follows weekly. He said that it would be a dream to end his career by winning a Copa Libertadores with the side from the Estadio Gigante de Arroyito.
Will Messi go to the Olympics with Argentina?
While nothing has been confirmed, the rumours all point to Lionel Messi being keen on playing for Argentina during their potential Olympic campaign, with manager Mascherano saying back in October 2023 that “Leo has the doors of the national team open and can do whatever he wants, that’s the reality of it. If he wants to go, if we qualify, he’ll be welcome.”
Messi and Di Maria both formed part of Argentina’s 2008 Olympic Gold winning squad in Beijing, with the former Real Madrid winger getting the winning goal in the final against Nigeria give the South American side the gold. If Messi were to win gold in the French capital then he would be the only player in history to have two Olympic golds and a World Cup medal.