@FootynewsThe business of football often operates in the shadows, but Angel Di Maria's story from the 2014 World Cup final pulls back that curtain completely. It was early that morning when Doctor Daniel Martinez walked into the room where Di Maria sat on a stretcher, ready for an injection in his leg after tearing his thigh during the quarter-finals. Even with anti-inflammatories keeping him moving, the tension spiked when Martinez handed over an envelope and said, "Angel, look, this paper comes from Real Madrid." Di Maria immediately asked, "How? What are you telling me?" The doctor explained that the club claimed he wasn't fit and was pressuring them not to let him play in the final. Di Maria instantly connected the dots with rumors about James Rodriguez; he realized Real Madrid wanted to sell him to clear space for the new signing. They didn't want their asset getting injured before the transfer. Di Maria tore the letter up without even reading it and told Martinez, "Throw it away. The only one who decides here is me." He made it clear he was willing to play even if it meant ending his career, stating, "If I tear myself, let me keep tearing myself. I don't care. I just want to be there to play." Despite his desire to compete, he worried about putting pressure on the team selection. Early that morning, he visited coach Alejandro Sabella to tell him the decision should be based solely on who could help win the Cup. He told Sabella, "If it's me, it's me. If it's someone else, then it will be someone else. I just want to win the Cup. If you call me, I will play until I tear myself." After that conversation with Sabella, Di Maria broke down and started crying. It was a raw moment where loyalty clashed with the cold calculations of player transfers. #AngelDiMaria #JamesRodriguez

@FootynewsThe business of football often operates in the shadows, but Angel Di Maria's story from the 2014 World Cup final pulls back that curtain completely. It was early that morning when Doctor Daniel Martinez walked into the room where Di Maria sat on a stretcher, ready for an injection in his leg after tearing his thigh during the quarter-finals. Even with anti-inflammatories keeping him moving, the tension spiked when Martinez handed over an envelope and said, "Angel, look, this paper comes from Real Madrid." Di Maria immediately asked, "How? What are you telling me?" The doctor explained that the club claimed he wasn't fit and was pressuring them not to let him play in the final. Di Maria instantly connected the dots with rumors about James Rodriguez; he realized Real Madrid wanted to sell him to clear space for the new signing. They didn't want their asset getting injured before the transfer. Di Maria tore the letter up without even reading it and told Martinez, "Throw it away. The only one who decides here is me." He made it clear he was willing to play even if it meant ending his career, stating, "If I tear myself, let me keep tearing myself. I don't care. I just want to be there to play." Despite his desire to compete, he worried about putting pressure on the team selection. Early that morning, he visited coach Alejandro Sabella to tell him the decision should be based solely on who could help win the Cup. He told Sabella, "If it's me, it's me. If it's someone else, then it will be someone else. I just want to win the Cup. If you call me, I will play until I tear myself." After that conversation with Sabella, Di Maria broke down and started crying. It was a raw moment where loyalty clashed with the cold calculations of player transfers. #AngelDiMaria #JamesRodriguez