Paulo Gazzaniga being called up by Argentina wasn’t a huge surprise, although a mild one for football followers in the country.
He left the country as a youngster and joined Valencia’s youth set-up at the age of 15, although he didn’t go on to make any appearances for the Spanish club.
In 2011 he moved to Gillingham, and then in 2012 he was transferred to Southampton. Mauricio Pochettino and his coaches were still at Espanyol but arrived at the Saints in 2013, so they’ll have known the goalkeeper well before leaving the club.
Reunited at Tottenham since 2017, after a move for Pau Lopez broke down, Pochettino has been giving Gazzaniga opportunities this season.
Five appearances have been enough for the 26 year old to get an Argentina call-up, and he’s certainly excited about the opportunity ahead of him.
Along with club teammate Erik Lamela, Gazzaniga arrived at Ezeiza and was jumped upon by the media.
Democracia quote the Tottenham player as saying: “I’m confident, happy and have done enough to be here. Only now I have realised what being called-up means.”
Erik Lamela was also asked his thoughts on arriving in Argentina: “I want to take advantage of this chance.
“I waited a long time and I want to take advantage of this opportunity, in the time I was injured, I just thought about recovering… Now I’m back, I’m fine and I enjoy being here, that’s the most beautiful thing there is.”
There was no mention of Juan Foyth.
