Alejandro Garnacho spoke in an interview about wanting to play with the Argentina national team.
Garnacho gave his first interview to Argentine television, speaking with TyC Sports as he is with the team during their Asian tour. The 18 year old is expected to get some minutes in Argentina’s matches against Australia or Indonesia later this week and he has spoken about the tour. Speaking in an interview with TyC Sports, here is what he had to say:
“I didn’t hesitate at all because I feel Argentine, because I am Argentine. They bet on me and I had it clear, it is a very big national team. I don’t need to play three games, this tour doesn’t matter, I already know that I want to be with Argentina.
“The entire family from my mother’s side is from Argentina, they have always lived there. And the family from my father’s side are from Spain. For circumstances in life, my mother’s family came to Spain and she met my dad and I was born there. And I am very close to my mom’s family, always supporting the national team since I was a kid.”
He also spoke about the support he has gotten from the fans:
“Thank you to every one for the support. They already know, I am just another one (of the players) here, I am part of the group and we are going to try to continue to bring joy. I want to make my history here, little by little, to be with the group and to be happy here. Let’s go forward.
“From what I read, through social media, I know that many people in Argentina love me, appreciate me. Because of the decision I made to play for Argentina, most of them love me. And I am going to return that love on the pitch.”
About if he spoke with Argentina national team coach Lionel Scaloni:
“I didn’t speak with Scanloni before coming here. I spoke a lot with Roberto Ayala. So that I would know before the list came out that I would be here. He asked me if I was nervous and I told him I wasn’t. When I play I try to be me. I’m a young guy but I don’t care about age, I try to play the way I know how.”
“I want to make a career with the Argentina national team, if the coach trusts me, I can keep coming. To be one more and participate in the Copa America, the qualifiers and the World Cup.”
About being with the Argentina national team:
“My team mates are very good with me, very involved. Encouraging me, supporting me… I didn’t talk much with Messi. I went from watching him on TV all my life and now I have him here, it seems that it’s not real. The coach tells me to be calm, to play as I know he is going to give me the opportunity.
“People have seen me people, my main position is left winger. But wherever you put me, I’m not complaining. Wherever the coach decides, I’ll be there.
“Here, they call me Ale and Licha (Lisandro Martinez) calls me Garna because in Manchester that’s what they call me. Lisandro Martínez is like my father in Manchester. He tells me when I’m doing well and when I’m doing bad. He helps me a lot. He’s a 10 as a person. He talks to me about the national team.”
On having not played in the U20 World Cup:
“I lost the U20 World Cup because the competition in Manchester was still going on. I spoke a lot with the coach (Erik ten Hag), I asked him please (to let him go) but he told me I couldn’t go. But I followed them on television.”
On the World Cup final:
“It was unbelievable, crazy. I think both Argentina and Leo deserved it. They had a very good World Cup. The final, with the penalty kicks, it was terrific (the match) and everyone was suffering.
“I watched it with my mom, my grandfather, my brother… In the end, it happened and it ended as we were expecting.”
Argentine football:
“Argentine football is not known much there. But the Libertadores or River, Boca, yes, I like to follow.”
