Football

Argentine soccer star Angel Di Maria has expressed his reluctance to return to his hometown of Rosario due to escalating safety concerns. The 36-year-old, who triumphed with Argentina in the 2022 World Cup, had previously expressed his desire to end his career at his boyhood club, Rosario Central. However, a recent incident involving a bullet-pierced pig's head thrown at a family business has shattered his hopes.Di Maria revealed that his sister's business was targeted with a box containing the pig's head and a bullet, accompanied by a chilling note threatening his daughter's life if he returned to Rosario Central. "I am not going to return to Rosario in this way," Di Maria declared. "They touched my family, and I will not allow that."The incident is not an isolated one. Di Maria has faced previous threats, including a note thrown into a family property in March warning of dire consequences if he joined any club in Rosario. Argentine authorities have acknowledged the presence of "criminal organizations" in the city, but Di Maria remains skeptical of their ability to provide adequate protection."It is disrespectful to talk about security and protocols for me when people from Rosario cannot go out to work or wait for the bus without being robbed or killed," Di Maria said.The escalating violence in Rosario has also affected other high-profile South American footballers. Last year, gunmen opened fire on a shop belonging to the family of Lionel Messi's wife, leaving a threatening message for the footballer. In Colombia, guerilla fighters kidnapped the father of Liverpool's Luis Diaz, holding him for 12 days before releasing him.Di Maria's decision to prioritize his family's safety over his desire to return to his hometown highlights the growing threat posed by organized crime in South America. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by athletes and their families in regions plagued by violence and instability.