Di Maria extends Real Madrid contract until 2018

Aug 9, 2012 5:40:00 PM

The Argentina international is delighted to put pen to paper on a six-year renewal of his existing deal, and expressed his gratitude to manager Jose Mourinho and the fans

Real Madrid have reached an agreement with Angel Di Maria to extend his contract for a further six years, keeping him at the club until the end of the 2017-18 season.

The 24-year-old’s new deal will run until June 30, 2018, according to an announcement on the club’s official website. Additional terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

This is the second major update to Di Maria’s contract in the past two months, after he was rewarded with a wage increase in June, that took his salary from €2m to €3m per year.

The Argentine winger expressed his joy at the extension, telling Marca: "I am very happy because I know that the club extended the contract for the work I am doing. I feel very supported and loved by the club and the fans."

"Personally, I have greatly improved, thanks to Mourinho. I thank God for the work and sacrifice I made every day, and with every game, I managed to win the affections of the fans. I am delighted with them"

"I am fulfilling a dream that I had as a child. I am very happy here and this contract extension gives me the opportunity to remain here for many years and keep growing."

Di Maria joined Los Blancos from Benfica in June 2010 and has since gone on to make 83 appearances for the club, playing a vital role in their victorious 2011-12 Primera Division campaign.