Argentine police and prosecutors are currently investigating an anonymous death threat directed towards soccer star Ángel Di Maria in his hometown of Rosario. The threat was delivered early Monday to the Funes Hills Miraflores condominium, where Di Maria usually stays when in the region. The package contained a death threat to Di Maria's family if he were to return to play for one of the city clubs.
Di Maria, a 36-year-old winger currently playing for Benfica in Portugal, had recently expressed interest in potentially playing for his boyhood club, Rosario Central. He is currently in the United States on tour with the Argentine national team.
Esteban Santantino, a security official for the local government, highlighted that threats of this nature aim to create social unrest and instill fear among the population, particularly targeting public figures.
Rosario has been grappling with high levels of violence stemming from conflicts between rival drug trafficking groups. The city's homicide rate stands at 22 per 100,000 residents, significantly surpassing Argentina's national average of 4.2 per 100,000.
As one of the world's largest agro-port hubs, Rosario has become a focal point for drug trafficking activities, with experts suggesting that the city serves as a potential gateway for illegal drugs to be transported to other countries.
Notably, the city witnessed a similar incident involving another World Cup winner in the past. Unidentified gunmen targeted a supermarket owned by a relative of Lionel Messi, leaving behind a threatening message directed at the football star.
In response to the escalating violence in Rosario, the Argentine government announced plans to introduce a bill in Congress that would grant the armed forces the authority to intervene in internal security operations to combat drug trafficking and crime within the city.
