Ex-Man Utd star announces shock decision to quit just hours after being embroiled in SPITTING controversy
ANGEL DI MARIA has announced his retirement date from the Argentina national team will be after Copa America 2024.
The Manchester United flop had previously hinted at the news last month as he paid tribute to Lionel Messi in an emotional post.
He has now confirmed he will be hanging up his boots with the national team after the American championship next year.
Di Maria will end his 16-year spell with Argentina having made a remarkable 136 appearances and scored 29 goals so far.
His announcement comes after a video emerged appearing to show him spitting at Brazil fans.
The incident occurred during Argentina’s heated win at the Maracana on Wednesday.
In an Instagram post, he wrote: “The Copa America will be the last time I wear the Argentine shirt, with all the pain in the soul and feeling a knot in the throat I say goodbye to the most beautiful thing that happened to me in my career, dress it, sweat it and FEEL it with all the pride.
“Thank you fans, thank you family, thank you friends and team-mates, we keep making history and that will remain for eternity. Go Argentina damn it!”
The Argentine winger has had an extraordinary journey with his country the last few years, winning the Copa America 2021 and the 2022 World Cup.
His retirement is set for next summer when the 2024 Copa America will be held between June 20 and July 14 in the United States.
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Di Maria previously told Todo Pasa in October: “I will leave Argentina national team after Copa América — it’s over for me.”
In 2014 Di Maria signed for Manchester United from Real Madrid in a then-British record deal worth £59.7 million.
But he would spend just one year at Old Trafford, later complaining about the bad weather and calling Louis van Gaal the “worst coach” he has ever had.
Di Maria then hopped across the English Channel to join Paris Saint-Germain.
And he would be reunited with fellow Argentine Messi in 2021 where the two football icons scooped up more silverware together – two Ligue 1 titles.
Di Maria expressed his thoughts on spending time at PSG with the GOAT – who he has also played alongside for nearly his entire international career.
He continued: “I hugged Messi at PSG and told him: the only thing I’m grateful for is to have been able to play with you in a club, to be able to see you every day.”
The Benfica star has become a hero for his nation after showing his ability to score in crucial moments in two finals against France and Brazil – carving his name into the nation’s football history.
The former Man Utd ace has also won a gold medal in Beijing 2008 and the FIFA U20 World Cup in 2007 with Argentina.