Manchester United winger Angel di Maria says that growing up he adored Kily Gonzalez, while he also watched Ryan Giggs.
Manchester United winger Angel di Maria has spoken of his idol while growing up.
Since the 26-year-old is from Argentina, one would expect him to suggest Diego Maradona as his boyhood hero, but the name is one that may not be too familiar with many Premier League followers.
‘My position is the same as the person who was always my idol when I was growing up’, Di Maria told Inside United. ‘He played in that position for both the national team and for Inter Milan, and that is Cristian ‘Kily’ Gonzalez.
‘When I was a kid I also watched Ryan Giggs, who was again in pretty much the position I play. I think we have a similar style of play and now, as luck would have it, he’s my coach.
‘Going back to Kily, I had the chance to play alongside him when he came back to my first club (Rosario Central) when I was starting out in the first team, which made me very happy’.
Gonzalez will probably not go down in history as one of the (truly) greatest Argentine players of all time, but he was certainly one of the best and quickest in his prime.
The 40-year-old achieved considerable success with Spanish club Valencia, winning La Liga in 2002 and reaching the final of the Champions League twice in a row.
During his time in Spain, Gonzalez established himself as one of the trickiest wingers in the game, and he also tasted success with Italian club Inter Milan.
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