Tottenham star Christian Romero has admitted captaining his country is the ultimate goal for him, after doing so against Chile.
Clarin have an interview with the Tottenham defender today, carried out in the mixed zone after Friday’s 1-0 win over Chile.
Romero was named as captain for that game, the first time in his international career that he’s been awarded the honour.
The absence of Lionel Messi, who came on in the second half, and Nicolás Otamendi, who was suspended for the game, opened up the opportunity for the Tottenham.
He, of course, wears the captain’s armband at Tottenham and that played into the thinking for Lionel Scaloni when it came to picking a third captain in the squad.
Indeed, the Tottenham defender was chosen ahead of more experience options such as Nicolás Tagliafico, who has already worn the captain’s armband for Argentina, and the more experienced Emiliano Martínez.
That put added significance on to the occasion for the Tottenham man, who was happy to admit that it was a big moment for him and something he’d dreamt of since he was a youngster coming through the ranks in his homeland.
“It’s going to be an unforgettable night for me,” he said.
“I was already feeling excited on the bus coming to the stadium. It’s the ultimate experience for me. I arrived here as a child full of dreams, watching Leo (Messi), Ota (Otamendi), and Fide (Di María).
“I used to watch them on TV when I was a kid, and becoming captain today is the ultimate experience for me. I’m grateful to the coaching staff, to Leo and Ota, for choosing me. It’s a huge responsibility, but at the same time, it’s a very beautiful thing.
“Being the captain of the national team… Maybe 7 or 8 years ago, when I was in Córdoba, I wouldn’t have imagined all this. It’s an honour, and I want to enjoy it a lot.”
