Angel Di Maria ‘retires Juventus squad with injury after being told he would start on the bench’ as pressure mounts on Massimiliano Allegri after back-to-back Serie A defeats
- Angel Di Maria was not named in the Juventus squad due to their match with Bologna
- The Argentine has reportedly clashed with Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri
- Di Maria reportedly refused to play against Bologna if he started on the bench
Angel Di Maria reportedly pulled out of Juventus’ match against Bologna with an injury, after the star was informed by Massimiliano Allegri that he would start on the bench.
The Argentina World Cup winner was omitted from Allegri’s 23-man squad for the trip to Bologna, which Juventus say is due to an ankle injury.
According to Italian website TuttosportDi Maria has reportedly clashed with Allegri and informed the Juventus boss that he was suffering from the problem after being told he would be left out of the starting squad.
It was reported that Di Maria would have refused to take part in Sunday night’s game if he had been selected as a substitute.
Di Maria’s injury is seen as an attempt to play down a wider issue between the player and coach, with Juventus having to play crucial games in their bid to secure Champions League football.
Angel Di Maria reportedly pulled out of the Juventus squad for starting on the bench
Di Maria is said to have clashed with Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri during his playing time
The alleged dispute comes amid reports of unrest among Juventus players, who are unhappy with Allegri’s coaching style and tactical approach.
Tension within the Juventus squad has increased further in recent weeks, with the Old Lady losing their last three league matches under Allegri and taking one win in just their last five games in all competitions.
Di Maria’s reported clash with Allegri looks likely to end any possibility of an Argentine contract extension as his current contract expires at the end of the season.
The 35-year-old is considering playing another season in Europe or returning to Argentina to sign for his hometown club Rosario Central.
Di Maria made 32 appearances in all competitions during his debut season for Juventus, scoring eight goals and providing seven assists. This is despite missing early games this season due to an adductor injury.
Despite starting in Juventus’ recent Europa League and Coppa Italia games, the winger has only started in one of their last six Serie A games.
The feeling of the Italian fans and media is that Allegri has failed to build a relationship with Di Maria, one of the few top players in the team.
Allegri was criticized for not making it clear to Di Maria how important he is to the team, even though his minutes were limited to manage his fitness.
Di Maria has made vital contributions this season, but has one starting spot in the last six Serie A matches
Juventus will aim to avoid four consecutive Serie A defeats against Bologna
Di Maria’s contributions to the team have been greater than those of other Juventus midfielders, such as the underwhelming Manuel Locatelli, who have made more appearances in the team.
The alleged clash has sparked questions about Allegri’s ability to forge strong bonds with the club’s best players.
Di Maria’s absence comes as Juventus face a crucial month in which much of the squad will play for their own future, with the dispute exposing problems within the club.
Juventus will try to avoid losing four consecutive Serie A games for the first time since the 1961-62 season when they face Thiago Motta’s Bologna.
A defeat on Sunday night would further increase the pressure on Allegri, with Juventus third in the table but still unsure of qualification for next season’s Champions League.