Copa America winner Angel Di Maria has struggled for game time at Paris Saint-Germain this season and is willing to be a fixture in the team’s midfield if it will guarantee him more minutes.
Prior to this season, Di Maria was the player with the most games for PSG since he joined them from Manchester united in 2015. He has played 274 times for the French side across all competitions, scoring 89 goals and providing 107 assists.
However, since the arrival of his national team captain, Lionel Messi, from Argentina, his usual right-wing role has been taken away from him to accommodate the six-time Ballon D’Or winner.
Angel Di Maria is now willing to take up a role in the middle of the park, believing it’s a role suited for him so that he can get more game time this season.
Mauricio Pochettino cannot be blamed for ditching Di Maria in favour of Lionel Messi on the right side of the PSG attack. However, Di Maria has produced more returns than Lionel Messi whenever he gets an opportunity to play on the right side.
The 33-year-old has played only 10 games – seven as a starter – for PSG this season and has had five goal involvements (two goals and three assists). He is also third in PSG’s chance creation behind Neymar and Mbappe despite a lack of minutes.
I can play in midfield, Di Maria claims
Angel Di Maria is no stranger to playing in the midfield. He has played there a few times for Argentina and was also deployed in the midfield towards the end of his time at Real Madrid as the Bale-Benzema-Cristiano attack trio was picking up speed.
Di Maria now wants Mauricio Pochettino to give him the opportunity to show what he can do in the middle of the park for PSG.
“I think I’ve already shown that I can play in that position. In fact, it was my best year at Real Madrid, in 2014,” Di Maria told RMC Sport.
“The manager knows I can play there, but then it’s down to decisions. He’s there to decide and we’re there to do as best as we can on the pitch, no matter where, in midfield, up front, or elsewhere.
“Those are questions for him, the only thing I’ve done since I arrived at PSG has been to give it my all when on the pitch.
“It’s true that I like to play with the ball at my feet. In 2014 I played in midfield and I felt very good, really happy. With quality players at PSG like Marco [Verratti], Leandro [Paredes] or Gana [Idrissa Gueye] it could work, but those are the manager’s decisions.”
