Angel Di María reached a significant milestone as he played his 150th official game for Benfica during their match against Boavista last Friday. The Argentine winger expressed his satisfaction with the achievement, emphasizing the importance of the club to him.
“For me, it is significant. Since the day I arrived at the club at the age of 17/18, many things have happened. I left and now I have returned. Continuing to accumulate appearances and having the opportunity to wear this jersey is a privilege. I said it on the day I left, and I will say it again now that I’ve returned: Benfica is my home in Europe. It’s the club that opened the doors for me to continue succeeding. I am completely grateful. I hope to play the remaining games this season and increase this milestone of 150 even further,” expressed the Benfica number 11 in an interview with BPlay, while reminiscing about his debut for the Eagles on August 29, 2007.
“The fact that my first game was a Champions League match (Copenhagen 0-1 Benfica) was a privilege. Putting on the jersey, having that opportunity to play in the Champions League, it’s something very beautiful. From that moment on, a wonderful story with Benfica began,” recalled Di María, highlighting the significance of his debut.
Di María also fondly remembered his 50th game for Benfica, which also happened in the Champions League on October 2, 2008, with a victorious home match (2-0) against Napoli. “Whenever it’s a European competition, it’s important for each player. Accumulating many games in this competition is something beautiful and good. We won the game, and with this jersey, winning is always important,” emphasized the Argentine star.
His 100th game occurred on December 12, 2009, against Olhanense (2-2), and while Di María remembered little about that particular match, he stated, “As I mentioned before, from the day I arrived until the day I left, every game was a privilege to wear this shirt. I am older now, but I try to maintain the same quality.”
Regarding his recent milestone of 150 games, the winger revealed that he only discovered the fact the day after the match. “I am happy about scoring a goal and providing an assist in such a way,” he shared.
When asked about his secret to staying in shape, Di María credited his teammates, like João Neves, for their support: “They run for me, help me score goals, and get closer to the goal, which is where I feel best. I believe it is necessary to keep working and maintain the mindset of always wanting to win.”
Reflecting on his return to Lisbon during the summer transfer window, Di María underlined that everything is going well for him: “I am happy to be here again, in Lisbon, with the people. I am happy in the house where I am. My wife and daughters are happy too. When I left, it was just me and my wife, with no children. Now, I have two. I wanted them to see where it all started, where I was very happy when I was younger. They understand what Benfica and Lisbon mean, and that is more important to me.”
After winning the Portuguese Supercup against FC Porto (2-0) in August, Di María now aims to secure another trophy. “My mentality is to always want more. We are two games away from lifting another trophy. It doesn’t matter the competition; it’s always important, whether it’s winning a World Cup or anything else. The most important thing is to win and keep on winning. I think that when your career ends, what matters and remains is what you have achieved over the years. For me, Wednesday’s game is very important. It’s already a final that gives us the chance to reach the final on Saturday, and winning another title is important for any player,” affirmed Di María, expressing his eagerness for continued success.
