In a recent tweet, journalist Gaston Edul mentioned that Barcelona are among clubs hoping to land Paris Saint-Germain playmaker Angel Di Maria. It has been claimed that the Catalan giants would have to rival Juventus, Atletico Madrid and Benfica in pursuit of the Argentine sensation.
Hay 4 equipos que sondearon a Ángel Di María: Juventus, Barcelona, Atlético de Madrid y Benfica.
Fideo va a seguir su carrera en Europa. pic.twitter.com/cVcM5gPBlu— Gastón Edul (@gastonedul) April 22, 2022
Di Maria’s Rollercoaster Of A Season In French Football
Di Maria has experienced a campaign of mixed emotions at Parc des Princes as he has caught the eye at times but has struggled to be consistent in front of the opposition goal. The Argentine sensation has registered three goals and seven assists in 26 matches for the Parisian outfit this season across all fronts.
The 34-year-old has performed well to average 1.9 shots, 2.1 key passes, 1.3 crosses and 1.1 dribbles per 90 minutes in Ligue 1. He has even been tidy with his ball distribution after making 79.7% of his attempted passes in top-flight football (stats via whoscored).
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What Will Di Maria Add To Barcelona Boss Xavi’s Team?
Di Maria remains a decent playmaker in the attacking third of the third. He can use his guile to make some intelligent runs towards the opponent’s penalty box and is a great crosser of the ball as well.
The Argentine talent can strike the ball with power and precision from long range. He is primarily a right-sided wide player but can also play on the left flank or operate as an attacking midfielder down the middle if required. However, at 34, Di Maria has only got a handful of years left in his playing career and is a player on the decline.
His current contract at Paris runs out in the summer. Thus, it makes sense for Barca to offer the Argentina international a short-term deal as he will be available on a free transfer ahead of the new season.
We can expect Di Maria to add more goals and creativity to Xavi‘s frontline and increase competition for places within Barcelona‘s match-day squad. The PSG attacker could even help the Catalan club bring some success back to the Nou Camp over the next couple of years.
