In Argentina, many nicknames are used. As I have a big nose, a child in the neighborhood, I was told that my nose looked like a pipe. And I kept the nickname. And later, my children inherited it. “El Pipita”, the little pipe.
You played for the Armoric Brest in the 1980s. What do you remember from the city?
A very good experience. I arrived from an Argentinian team, the Boca Juniors. I had decided to choose the economic component. At that time, in the country, we did not win a lot. I saw it as an opportunity to play in European football. It was an important offer that they made to me, a three -year contract, because in Argentina, there was not yet this modality. I went to France, with a French dictionary translated into Spanish, and I started to learn the language. I have very beautiful memories of Brest. Beyond the birth of my son Gonzalo, the people of the neighborhood in which I lived were very pleasant. I even left there last year. I saw my tender Marie, who was my French teacher. I don’t see her much but I wear her in my heart because she helped my family a lot.
If I want to go to France, I have no problem, I have vocabulary. And when I get bored, I use the Duolingo application, I take lessons again, and it comes back to my mind. I try to maintain my level of French, it is a very beautiful language. France is a very beautiful country.
Whenever we played at home with Brest, we won. But outside, we lost. It revolted me …
What memories do you keep of your only season with Brest (33 championship games, a goal), where you end up going down to the second division?
Brest, with all the respect, is a small team in France. I didn’t know that. I had played in two major teams in my country where everything that mattered was to win. Whenever we played at home with Brest, we won. But outside, we lost. It revolted me and I expressed it at the time because I was not used to that. I tried to stimulate this mentality to play the outside games in the same way as those at home. It smiled at us sometimes, others not and it cost us the descent.
What is your son Gonzalo with Brest?
My wife got pregnant in Argentina but she gave birth in Brest. Gonzalo only lived six months in Brest. Then I returned to Argentina after a call from César Menotti, the future coach of River Plate. I returned to the country.
Would Gonzalo have really been able to play for the French team?
Gonzalo is Franco-Argentinian. When he played Real Madrid, the coach (Raymond Domenech) came to see him. I participated in the meeting. He asked her to play for the French team A. But Gonzalo told him no. He was born in France but he is Argentinian. The only selection with which he wanted to play was the Albiceleste. These are personal decisions. I was convinced that he was going to say no.
What relations do you have with the city of Madrid?
Last year, I went there because I was in Europe. Whenever I go there, I go to Madrid because I still have a lot of friends and I have a lot of fun going to the Bernabéu. When I went there, I saw Florentino (Perez, president of Real Madrid), but he was busy. I was with José Angel Sanchez (right arm of the last city). I feel that Madrid is my house.
-When Gonzalo was born in Brest, could you imagine that he would one day play Real Madrid?
No, in Argentina everyone wants to become a professional footballer, but it is not possible. I saw that my sons played very well but I forced them to study in parallel with sport. At 18, when Gonzalo could have gone to university, he was bought by Real Madrid. What was I going to tell him? His career was already launched.
What memories do you keep for years from Gonzalo to Real Madrid?
We were very happy in Madrid, very happy with everything he could do. People remember him, and I think he is very much loved by the Madrid public. He made very good games and he won some championships (2007, 2008, 2012). When you go to a club of this scale, you realize the difference. After Madrid, we left for Naples, which was a great experience, but ended badly because Juventus bought it. Gonzalo went to the rival. For the Neapolitans, at that time, Gonzalo was the idol. He was criticized. He had an incredible career. Imagine: Madrid, Naples, Juventus, Milan, Chelsea. And then, he ended his career in Miami with his brother (Federico).
This match will undoubtedly remain in the memories of the club, the city, all the Bretons.
If you were told that Brest would one day play in the Champions League, would you have thought it?
I am very happy. It came to reality. By being a small team, they will play the best team in the world. This match will undoubtedly remain in the memories of the club, the city, all the Bretons. An indelible memory.
Who do you think will win?
In matches, no one can guarantee anything. Brest, at home, will do everything to disturb Madrid who has a very important workforce. But for Brest, playing this kind of match is unique. Everyone has to take advantage of this meeting.
Who are you going to bear?
These are two clubs that I really like. I can’t choose, it is the family. That the best wins.
