5) His move to Benfica in 2007, his first venture into Europe as a player, could have panned out very differently. Di Maria came close to joining Rubin Kazan, before eventually electing to move to Portugal. He won one league title and two league cup’s during his time with Benfica.
6) Di Maria is very keen on his tattoos. Before he left for Benfica, he and six childhood friends all had the same phrase inked on their left forearm: “To be born in El Perdriel was and will be the best thing that has ever happened to me in my life.”