Di Maria leaves the field to attend to a robbery at his house
The Paris Saint-Germain coach was seen walking into the tunnel with Di Maria after he substituted the player.
Paris Saint-Germain’s Argentine midfielder Angel Di Maria reacts to his house being burgled during a PSG game. Picture: Philippe DESMAZES / AFP.
Paris Saint-Germain star Angel Di Maria was called off the field during a game by coach Mauricio Pochettino so he could attend to his family.
The French club’s sporting director Leonardo Araujo was seen leaning over from the block of seats above the technical area to shout a message at coach Mauricio Pochettino, before the former mentor substituted Argentine star Angel Di Maria in the 62nd minute with the score level on 1-1. The 33-year-old was replaced by Leondro Paredes for him to attend to his family.
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Pochettino reappeared after a brief discussion with the player and went back to his technical area. After the bizarre exchange between the sporting director, coach and player. GFFN revealed Di Maria’s house was burgled while his family was inside and he was on the football field playing against Nantes.
Breaking | RMC report that Angel di Maria & another PSG player were the victims of a home robbery, leading to the Argentine’s rapid exit from the Parc des Princes mid-game. No further details for now.
— Get French Football News (@GFFN) March 14, 2021
Breaking | PSG confirm that Angel di Maria’s family were inside his house when it was being robbed tonight. (RMC)
— Get French Football News (@GFFN) March 14, 2021
⚠️ Leonardo, PSG sporting director, called Pochettino on the bench for a serious conversation. Immediately, the coach replaced Di María.The reason: the player’s house was robbed and his family was kidnapped. Di María left the field crying. ????pic.twitter.com/yC2R2bXT10
— Enock Essel Niccolo Makaville (@EsselKobina39) March 15, 2021
PSG lost 2-1 in the Ligue 1 game conceding a late goal from Moses Simon in the 71st minutes.
Di Maria’s family were not harmed in the robbery as they were in a different part of the house during the burglary even though the incident was first thought to be of a violent nature. It was later discovered that the Argentine international’s house was not the only house targeted on the night on the big game. The house of Marquinhos’ parents was also broken into in the same area that Di Maria lives in.
Marquinhos and Di Maria are teammates at PSG. The Brazilians defender’s parents were also lucky to escape without any injuries.
Football players’ homes being broken into has become a common occurrence in France over the last 18 months with Sergio Rico, Thiago Silva and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting having to pick up after burglars after the forced their way into their homes.
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