Brighton loanee Facundo Buonanotte is enjoying life at Elche, and the Argentine believes he’s found something in Spain that he was missing during his time in England.
The 21-year-old joined the Spanish club on a season-long loan this summer, following spells at Leicester City, Chelsea and Leeds United.
He’s already spoken about how important feeling comfortable was when choosing his next destination. Now, he’s explained why life in Spain feels much closer to home.
And he’s made an interesting comparison with English football.
“You lose it a little in England”
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Argentina’s DSports, Buonanotte explained how quickly he settled into his new surroundings.
“From the first minute I arrived, the club welcomed me really well. The people who work there are very good. I think it’s very similar to clubs in Argentina, because the fans are very similar too.”
He then explained what makes the difference.
“People are close to you here. They always give you that passion which you perhaps lose a little in England. People there are passionate too, but I think it’s different from us, in their own way.”
“Here they’re more like us. They show it to you at the stadium, they show it to you in the street. So yes, you could say I feel closer to Argentina in that sense.”
After struggling for regular opportunities during his recent loans, the Brighton youngster seems happy with his new surroundings.
Elche’s difficult start to the season
Things haven’t been quite as positive on the pitch, though. Elche currently sit 18th in La Liga, with five points from seven matches. They’ve managed just one victory, alongside two draws and four defeats.
And there’s a curious detail about that first win. It was a 3-1 victory against Espanyol, right before the international break… And Buonanotte sat on the bench, having played in four of their previous six league matches.
Still, individually the Brighton loanee has already contributed a goal and an assist. He scored against Athletic Bilbao and set up a goal against Racing.
| Date | Opponent | Result | Minutes | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17/08 | Deportivo | 1-1 (D) | – | – | – |
| 23/08 | Barcelona | 0-5 (L) | 26 | – | – |
| 28/08 | Racing | 2-3 (L) | 69 | – | 1 |
| 07/09 | Real Sociedad | 2-3 (L) | 55 | – | – |
| 12/09 | Athletic Bilbao | 1-1 (D) | 69 | 1 | – |
| 15/09 | Real Madrid | 2-3 (L) | – | – | – |
| 18/09 | Espanyol | 3-1 (W) | – | – | – |
Argentina remains a big ambition
Beyond settling into Spanish football, Buonanotte has another objective in mind: returning to Argentina’s national team. He described his previous experiences with Lionel Scaloni’s squad as the best moments of his career.
“Those were the best moments I’ve had in my career, I’ll be honest with you. Mainly because of everything that squad represents and what it has created. I had the chance to be called up after we became world champions in Qatar.”
“So I got to celebrate with the squad, I had the chance to train and experience all those wonderful moments.”
He appreciated the atmosphere among the players and coaching staff.
“Whenever people ask me about the national team, I always talk about the group. Beyond the football they play, it’s mainly about the group. Everyone is pulling in the same direction. It doesn’t matter who plays, everyone is there giving their best so the results come.”
The Brighton midfielder still believes he can earn another opportunity.
“You’re always thinking about that. But right now I’m focused on Elche, doing things well and helping the team. I believe that if I do my job well here, then the national team coaching staff will decide.”
“Obviously, I have faith that I’ll return and get another chance to show what I can do.”
Buonanotte also discussed Lionel Messi’s farewell to Argentina, admitting: “As a football lover and a fan of his, it hurts to see him say goodbye.”
For Brighton, the hope is that this latest loan finally gives their midfielder the continuity he needs. He’s clearly enjoying life away from England, even if Elche’s results have been disappointing so far.
Now he needs to turn that comfort into regular performances. Doing so could help both his future at Brighton and his chances of getting back into Argentina’s squad.
