While some players find it very difficult to play for an old rival, Angel Di Maria has claimed that it would be no issue if Barcelona wanted to sign him.
Despite his Real Madrid past, the Argentine stated that the only team he would totally reject any chance of playing for is Newell’s Old Boys, who neighbour his first club, Rosario Central.
“My relationship with Real Madrid ended,” he told French magazine So Foot. “My cycle with them closed some time ago.
“Honestly, I would have no problem playing for Barcelona.”
Before leaving Real, he remembers the club sending a letter to the Argentine FA in which they warned of the national team’s culpability for any injuries he would pick up at the 2014 World Cup.
“I took the trouble to read it, and then I ripped it up,” added Di Maria.
“I don’t need to remember that letter to be motivated against them. Facing Real Madrid is always a motivation.”
Indeed, the winger failed to make the final in Brazil due to injury and he now sees a psychologist having suffered from fitness problems throughout his career.
“It helps me to heal from injuries, and to prevent them,” he stated.
“It also helps me to relativise when under pressure, to be more relaxed.”