Paulo Gazzaniga has made five starts in all competitions for Tottenham Hotspur, which includes one in the Champions League against PSV Eindhoven earlier this month.
The goalkeeper has now made it to the Argentina squad for November’s international fixtures and on Tuesday, he spoke about everything sinking in.
It was the north London club’s manager, Mauricio Pochettino who informed the 26-year-old about his call-up for La Albiceleste, while he was getting on with day-to-day activities with the English club.
“I was surprised by the call-up. I had no indication that they were going to call me. I had been doing my job as usual and it caught me off guard. Mauricio (Pochettino) told me and I thought he was joking,” Gazzaniga told Argentine newspaper Clarin.
For Pochettino’s side, the South American shot stopper is behind Hugo Lloris in the pecking order, but for him, training alongside the World Cup winner is a matter of pride.
“One of my teammates is Hugo Lloris and I am lucky to share the dressing room with him. I try to follow in his footsteps,” he said.
His parents separated at a young age and that saw Gazzaniga move to Spain with his father, when he was 15. He trained with Torre Levante before moving to Valencia’s academy, where he failed to find his way.
The goalkeeper then signed for Gillingham in 2011 and moved to Southampton a year later, which is where he met his compatriot and present manager.
Tottenham secured his services in 2017. 
When a journalist jokingly asked the keeper if he felt more European than Argentinian, the Spurs player said: “I am Argentine and here is the test. The roots are here and this is my country.”
