Angel Di Maria in talks to start management career

Angel Di Maria’s playing days are winding towards their final chapter, but the former Manchester United winger is already sketching out what comes next.

The 37-year-old is back where it all began at Rosario Central, finally completing an emotional return to his boyhood club earlier this year after nearly two decades in Europe and a spell at Benfica.

For United supporters, Di Maria will always be tied to the chaotic early post-Sir Alex Ferguson era.

Signed from Real Madrid in 2014 for a British-record £59.7 million, he had some sparks of brilliance, but never truly settled under Louis van Gaal

Scoring just four goals in 32 games before departing a year later, that short, expensive stay remains one of the defining transfer missteps of that period at Old Trafford.

However, his move to Paris Saint-Germain in 2015 rebuilt his reputation.

Di Maria joined the French giants for around £55 million, winning multiple Ligue 1 titles and becoming a key creative outlet in a star-studded attack that regularly went deep in the Champions League.

Those years in Paris also forged a close bond with midfielder Leandro Paredes, a relationship that now looks set to extend into the dugout.

The Sun has reported that, in an interview with ESPN, Di Maria revealed he is already preparing for life on the touchline, explaining: “I’m working on building a coaching staff with Leandro Paredes.”

He continued: “I’m taking my coaching course to get my license.

“Our teams will play 4-3-3 … to the death. Leandro and I have already talked about it. After we retire, we want to manage Rosario Central and Boca Juniors.”

It’s clear that Angel Di Maria wants to try to bring success both to his hometown club and to one of Argentina’s biggest clubs.

Di Maria’s eventual step into management will come informed by a career spent under some of the game’s leading coaches, including José Mourinho and Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid and Thomas Tuchel at PSG, as well as Van Gaal during his brief stay at Old Trafford.

That breadth of experience across Europe’s elite dressing rooms should give him a broad tactical base to draw from.

If he does follow through on his plans, Di Maria would join a growing list of former United players moving into the technical area, alongside Wayne Rooney, Michael Carrick, Tom Cleverley and Robin van Persie.