by Todo, after winning a World Cup, enjoys a good reputation in the international soccer team. It happened to France after ’98 or to Spain after the ‘Iniestazo’ in South Africa. And now it is Argentina that enjoys the joys of the World Cup and what being in the global elite means. It took a while for the ‘Albiceleste’, but with the Lionels -Scaloni and Messi- glory came in Qatar 36 years later. And with it the positioning of her soccer players.
The Premier League can attest to the devotion for the player born in the lands of Maradona. Like the Spanish on the benches, in the English top division There are Argentines everywhere in this campaign’s squads.
There were 14 until the opening of the winter market, the highest number in the history of the competition. Now, with the immediate arrival of Valentín Barco at Brighton, the number will increase to 15. And it will be susceptible to continue growing when Claudio the ‘Devil’ Echeverri joins Manchester City.
THE WORLD CHAMPIONS
The list is led, naturally, by those crowned in Qatar with Messi. Five players joined the World Cup already established in the English first division. Dibu Martínez (Aston Villa), Julián Álvarez (Manchester City), Alexis Mac Allister (now Liverpool, then Brighton), Cuti Romero (Tottenham) and Lisandro Martínez (Manchester United) They were the five world champions playing in the Premier when Scaloni’s call came out.
‘Dibu’ saved two penalties in the shootout against the Netherlands /EFE
There were also Enzo Fernández, great revelation of the tournament, and Gonzalo Montiel, immortalized with the penalty that gave the title. The first played for Benfica before making the jump to Chelsea in the winter market in exchange for 121 million euros. The second, for his part, was world champion at Sevilla before leaving for Nottingham Forest for this season.
SELECTION PLAYERS
Another group of Argentine players who play in England have also been part of the Scaloni process, although without lifting the World Cup. Giovani Lo Celso It was the most famous case, being left out of the event in Qatar due to an injury. At 27 years old he has earned the trust of Ange Postecoglou and, after a loan in Spain, he aims to settle at Tottenham.
Lo Celso celebrates the goal against City / AFP
Emiliano Buendía (27), champion of the Copa América in 2021, hopes to recover from his injury to contribute to Unai Emery at Aston Villa. Opposite case Marcos Senesi, sporadic in the ‘Albiceleste’ call-ups but a fixture in Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth defensive backline. Like Nicolas DominguezNottingham Forest signing in the summer market who has firmly established his footing in the Premier this season, scoring three goals from midfield.
THE GREAT PROMISES
And, just as they are betting on established players, Argentine future projects are also part of the Premier League ecosystem. Alejandro Garnacho leads the stop. The one born in Madrid is one of the best assets of Erik ten Hag’s team, and has also already received the call from the absolute ‘Albiceleste’.
Alejandro Garnacho celebrates one of his goals against Aston Villa / AFP
Behind them come two who came directly from the Argentine league, like Julián at City. Alejo Véliz (Tottenham Hotspur) and Facundo Buonanotte (Brighton) They were purchased directly from Rosario Central. At 20 and 19 years old respectively, they aim to take the baton of their country’s football at an international level.
Now on the list are the 15th and 16th names that will also land from the LPF. Valentín Barco (Brighton) and Claudio ‘Diablito’ Echeverri (Manchester City) They will take the Boca-River ‘Superclásico’ to the grounds of the British country. A more than consolidated invasion in the most watched league in the world today.
