Last month, Brighton & Hove Albion youngster Facundo Buonanotte was one of the players who couldn’t join Argentina’s U-20 squad for the World Cup.
With the Seagulls looking to finish the Premier League season as high as possible, manager Roberto De Zerbi didn’t let the 18-year-old leave before the end of the season.
Buonanotte then ended up being called by Argentina’s first team, and made his debut last night. Now speaking to ESPN, he claims that was a ‘revenge’ for missing out the U-20 World Cup.
“It was a great shame not to have been in the Under 20 World Cup. This was revenge for me and for Alejandro Garnacho with whom we shared the concentration and talked a lot about this topic. I am grateful to Lionel who gave us the confidence to be here.”
The Brighton youngster reveals he got really nervous the night before, and even needed some help to rest at night.
“He told me to enjoy myself, that I didn’t have to prove anything and he wanted me to start getting to know myself with my teammates. I found out yesterday that I was playing and I took a little pill to be able to fall asleep.”
Buonanotte played for 74 minutes in the friendly match against Indonesia, and is already hoping for a bright future with the national team.
“I’m dreaming awake. It’s crazy. The coach gave me the confidence to do what I do at the club. He turned everything out perfectly. We have to keep improving for the Qualifiers.”
The midfielder joined Brighton in January following a €6m move from Rosario Central. In his first six months with the Seagulls, he made 14 appearances, and even had a goal and an assist in the Premier League.
Now with him in the national team, it just seems the Seagulls got another very promising South American talent in their hands.
