Footballers love their fads and it’s an age old routine to have a signature celebration. As Manchester United fans will know Angel di Maria shares the heart shape finger salute with Real Madrid man Gareth Bale.
But, while many of these signals are simply for the sake of celebration, Di Maria’s gesture goes further.
Because, when the Argentine scores he is also celebrating the life of his daughter, which was so nearly taken a way from him in infancy.
The Daily Mail reports:
Di Maria is not being flippant. Daughter Mia was born three months prematurely in April 2013 and, for a while, the odds on survival were not good.
It was Mia who was carried round the field by her father after Real’s Champions League final win over Atletico Madrid and it is for her that Di Maria makes the ‘heart’ gesture with his hands after scoring.
It’s always good to know the background on these things as it gives what looks like a fashion motivated gesture an altogether more significant meaning.
After a flying start to his career Manchester United fans haven’t seen The Heart since Di Maria’s goal against Everton in October.
It looks unlikely that he will play against Stoke on Tuesday as he strained his hamstring in the defeat of Hull at the weekend. But he’s been carrying the team at times this seaosn and now others are coming to the fore, hopefully they can start providing for him in the same way that he has so far in the campaign – because he’s been nothing short of sensational for Manchester United so far.
Let’s see Angel’s goals for the club. Manchester Untied fans: is Di Maria player of the season so far?
