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Angel di Maria first sold for just 20 footballs

Xinhua, April 10, 2015 Adjust font size:

Transfers for Manchester United midfielder Angel di Maria has have amounted at more than 100 million euros, but the first fee paid for him was just 20 footballs.

Copa America starts in June, but Copa fever is mounting in the media and in the small clubs like El Torito in the Argentinian city of Rosario where di Maria first made his mark.

Di Maria was only seven when when he first had clubs fighting for his signature, recalled Marcelo Pavon, the El Torito coach.

Pavon revealed the first sale for di Maria was only for 20 balls to Rosario Central. "It was a fortune (for Rosario Central)," said Pavon.

Portugal's Benfica paid Rosario Central more than five million euros for the 19-year-old di Maria in 2007. They sold him to Real Madrid for 25 million euros.

Manchester United paid more than 80 million euros for the attacking midfielder last year.

Rosario, 300 kilometers (185 miles) north of Buenos Aires, also produced Lionel Messi and a host of other stars. Endi