Benjamin Garre is perhaps best known at the moment as being the player who Manchester City had to battle over at a Court of Arbitration for Sport hearing.
The 18 year old’s former club Velez Sarsfield complained to FIFA that City had contacted the player when he was just 15, and then signed him when he was 16. This would usually be against FIFA rules, with players not allowed to simply jump continents at that age, having to wait until they reach 18.
However, the Premier League club argued that Garre holding an Italian passport meant he should be treated the same as a player moving from within the EU. FIFA agreed, Velez didn’t and appealed the decision at CAS, with Manchester City coming out as winners.
Garre will soon want to be known for much more than that and is currently away with Argentina’s U20 team. Not called up for a while by Argentina’s youth set-up, the youngster is very happy to return.
Speaking to Doble Amarilla, he explained: I’m very happy. I waited a long time to return to wear this shirt and the truth is that today I try to mix with the guys on and off the field. It was a very positive tour because we got good results although there was a defeat, which was not unfair, we could have scored the odd goal, but in general it was a very positive tour. We are really looking forward to what is coming.”
The U20 World Cup will be in May and June of this year, in Poland, and that’s something for Garre to aim for: “Clearly that dream is always there. From when I’ve talked to the guys, the main objective was obviously to qualify for the World Cup and then go for the title. The group is very focused and very united. Every time we hear the word “Mundial” we know what we want and we will try to reach the highest.”
Doble Amarilla then put it to Garre that training with Manchester City must be ‘like going to school every day’, given he’ll constantly be learning.
The youngster very much agreed and it’s clear he’s enjoying his time with the English club: “Yes, the truth is yes. From the first day that I arrived until today. I am about to have spent three years with the club, everything has been incredible. I enjoyed it a lot, it was crazy, and I hope it can continue repeating.”
