Nahuel Molina of Udinese spoke about the Argentina national team, the World Cup and winning the Copa America.
Molina has been a regular part of the Argentina national team for a year. Being called up to the Copa America, Molina would rotate matches at right back with Gonzalo Montiel.
However, since the Copa America, he has started more matches for the national team and often looks like the first choice right back for coach Lionel Scaloni. Now with Udinese, the 24 year old spoke with Marca about training with Barcelona’s La Masia. Here is what he had to say:
On the Escuela del Barça and how he remembers it:
“I got there at 11 years old. It was a very nice stage, I enjoyed it a lot. I went with the idea of playing and learning how to position myself and a lot of things that as a kid I didn’t perceive.”
On getting to Barcelona:
“They were on another level. I was 12 years old and I think I didn’t take it as serious of an opportunity like it required. But I really enjoyed being part of it, the facilities, the stadium, La Masia…”
He was also asked about who his idols were as a kid:
“It was always Messi for what he represents. After that, as I got older, I started to watch Alves and Lahm.”
In regards to Rodrigo De Paul and how he sees De Paul at Atletico:
“He’s a great player and an excellent person who helped me a lot at Udinese.
Regarding Lionel Messi:
“Playing with Leo is crazy, I never imagined it. Not when I made my Primera debut with Boca could I have thought of all of this happening so fast: Coming to Italy, going to the Argentina national team… Being able to play with Leo is a dream.”
On what he felt when he won the Copa America:
“It was my first call up and my first matches with the national team. Winning the title was incredible because of the way it happened. The Copa was going to be in Argentina and they switched it to Brazil because of the pandemic. In the end we both got to the final and winning against them at the Maracana surpassed my dream.
What changed with Argentina:
“I can’t talk about the previous generation since I wasn’t there. Today, there’s a great atmosphere and a healthy competition. We all want to win and to bring the national team higher. There are changes in the 11 and the team continues to play well.
About the 2022 FIFA Qatar World Cup:
“Being at a World Cup is something unique. The expectations are high but first we have friendly matches and the match against Italy that is very important. We are taking it one match at a time as if they were finals. The World Cup is far. We hope to get to it in the best way.”
If he can dream about winning the World Cup:
“Obviously we dream about winning it. On a football level, it’s the highest, the climax for any player. You always dream about these types of things.”
