Photo: Jed Jacobsohn / Getty Images
Tuesday, October 1
Cuauhtémoc Blanco is the culprit that an Argentine rejected the opportunity to play with Mexico in a World Cup
It is very common to see footballers born in one country, represent another. In Mexico, Gerardo Martino decided to take El Tri to Rogelio Funes Mori . The Argentine-born striker had no problems wearing the Mexican team’s jersey. However, about 15 years ago Walter Gaitán had a similar opportunity , but former midfielder refused to be part of the Aztec team and among his reasons comes the name of Cuauhtémoc Blanco.
Walter Gaitán played for eight years on Mexican soil. Tigres de la UANL, Necaxa and Veracruz were the teams for this Argentine who came from the historic Boca Juniors . The former soccer player had a good acceptance in Mexico and Ricardo La Volpe had the intention of naturalizing him to replace Cuauhtémoc Blanco in the World Cup in Germany 2006 . However, the Argentine rejected the offer.
“I decided not to do it at that time, there was the issue of the Selection, I was absorbed a little by the pressure that I had a lot of chances to go to a World Cup with Mexico . It happened because of that, more than a matter of feelings, I am very grateful to Mexico, I would have been very happy, but I decided not to, “he explained to Mediotiempo.
Among the reasons “El Divino” explained that it was not easy having to assume the responsibility of replacing an idol in Mexican territory such as Cuauhtémoc Blanco . Without a doubt, this represented an enormous weight on his back, a weight that the Argentine did not want to carry.
“Yes, there are many things that happened at that time, one of the things was that I had to replace the selection symbol and I think it was not the time for me, it was something very strong , at the national level I had the acceptance of the people, I did not do it and neither did Cuau go to the World Cup ”, he explained.
(1) Walter Gaitán He played little in Boca, but left a good memory and received two almost identical goal passes from Riquelme. This against Students and .. pic.twitter.com/VfUUQs1knD— Gonzalo De Feliche (@GonzaDeFeliche) December 16, 2021
However, Walter Gaitán acknowledged he regretted not having made the decision to play for the Mexican national team . Had he accepted, the Argentine would have had a unique experience of playing a soccer World Cup.
“Of that yes, sure, of that yes. I would have liked to go to the World Cup , because of the interest that there was for me to do it, and I say, that’s right, I should have gone. One of my worst mistakes was not having naturalized myself to play the World Cup ”, he confessed.
Two of the most talented creatives that Mexico has produced stayed outside of Germany 2006
White: the 10 par excellence and a year ago he was champion with America.
Bautista: broke the Libertadores with Chivas (he would be champion 6 months later) pic.twitter.com/HTzPKyN7o2— Iván López Elizondo (@LopezElizondo 11)) April 13, 2020
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