Ángel Di María slams former rival club: “A bit strange”

Ángel Di María didn’t hold back when discussing the situation of Argentine players at Atlético Madrid. Speaking on Radio La Red, the former Real Madrid winger described the club as “a bit strange.”

“They disappear”

“When things go well, they go well. But then, all of a sudden, I think they stifle players. They start to disappear. It happens to most of the young guys who pass through there,” Di María said, likely referencing players like Julián Álvarez, Thiago Almada, Nicolás González, and Nahuel Molina.

He added that only a few players enjoy a consistent run in the starting lineup under Diego Simeone. “There are very few who get a string of starts and never get benched,” he said, commenting on how the coach manages his lineup.

Argentina brings out the best in young stars

For Di María, the picture changes completely when these players join the national team. “The great thing about the Argentina squad is that when these guys put on the sky blue and white, they become different players. They transform and play amazingly. They enjoy being in the national team,” he said, now a player at Rosario Central.

Di María’s impressive record vs Atleti

Di María faced Atlético Madrid 15 times during his career, winning 11 of those matches. Across those encounters, he recorded four goals and six assists.

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