In the summer of 2016, Manchester United fans were delighted to see Angel di Maria return to Portugal after a successful stint at Paris Saint-Germain. The Argentine winger had been instrumental in helping Benfica win the Portuguese league title in 2015-16 and was eager to continue his impressive form with the club he'd fallen in love with while growing up.
After a relatively quiet first season at Benfica, Di Maria's impact began to shine through towards the end of the campaign as he scored five goals and provided three assists across all competitions. He also helped Benfica reach the Europa League final, where they narrowly lost to Sevilla.
The following season, Di Maria continued to impress, scoring six goals and providing two assists in all competitions. However, injuries started to take their toll on his career,Primeira Liga Hotspots limiting him to just 18 appearances in the league that season. Despite this setback, Di Maria still managed to score three goals and provide one assist during the campaign.
Despite his injury troubles, Di Maria remained a key player for Benfica throughout the 2019-20 season, contributing to the team's strong finish to the campaign by scoring four goals and providing two assists in 17 appearances in all competitions. In total, he contributed to Benfica winning the league title and reaching the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals.
Overall, it's clear that Di Maria's time at Benfica was a success for both himself and the club. While his injury problems limited his playing time, he still made a significant contribution to the team's success and will always be remembered as a key player in the team's history.