Argentina's Angel Di Maria considered international retirement
Thursday 29 December 2016 20:11, UK
Angel Di Maria has revealed he almost followed in Lionel Messi's footsteps by retiring from international football this summer.
Messi called time on his international career in July after Argentina lost the Copa America Centenario final to Chile, although the Barcelona maestro has since reversed his decision.
The penalty shoot-out defeat in New Jersey was the third major tournament final loss for Messi and Di Maria in as many years, following defeat to Chile and Germany in the 2015 Copa America and 2014 World Cup finals, respectively.
The Paris Saint-Germain playmaker, capped 77 times by Argentina, confirmed the heartache of three final defeats almost saw him call time on his international career.
"When Messi retired, I thought about doing the same," Di Maria told Argentine sports station TyC Sports.
"You can lose a final, but three in a row, that's something different.
When Messi retired, I thought about doing the same. If I lose another final, that's it.
"I thought about leaving the national team, but my wife and my father stopped me."
Former Manchester United and Real Madrid midfielder Di Maria has travelled with the Argentina squad for their forthcoming World Cup qualifiers with Peru and Paraguay.
The 28-year-old will have the chance to atone for previous defeats if Edgardo Bauza's squad qualify for Russia 2018, but he has warned he would quit if he tasted another final loss.
"I almost started therapy, but in the end I decided it was something I had to figure out by myself," Di Maria added. "If I lose another final, that's it."
