Due to the link between Spain and Latin America and the similar culture and the language they have in common many South American players have played and play in Spanish football. Including for Real Madrid. One of the all time greatest Real Madrid players Alfredo di Stefano was Argentinian. The stadium where Real Madrid’s satellite club Real Madrid Castilla plays has thus been named after Alfredo di Stefano. Later on during the 1980s the current sports director in Real Madrid Jorge Valdano played with los merengues and during the 1990s Fernando Redondo.
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| Facade of Estadio Alfredo di Stefano de Real Madrid |
In the current Real Madrid squad there are two Argentinian internationals. Fernando Gago y Gonzalo Higuain. Both were young talents in Argentina and came to Real Madrid at an early age. While none of them have established themselves in the league of Di Stefano or Redondo they do play regularly on the first team and Higuain was even the club’s topscorer for the season 2008/09.
Fernando Gago: |
| Fernando Gago on the ground |
Gago played with the jersey number 8 for the season 2008/09. For the season 2009/10 he switched to the jersey number 5. In Argentina the number 5 jersey is reserved for the central midfield player and has a very high status since it is a very important position in the Argentinian system. Kaka who was new in the club had played previously with number 22 , with number 8, and with number 10. Kaka was not really interested in wearing the number 5 jersey previously worn by Zidane since he would rather be Kaka than “the new Zidane”. So in the end everyone came out happy with the numbers assigned.
Gonzalo Higuain: |
| Real Madrid player number 20 Gonzalo Higuain |
Higuain is a very explosive player and is a powerful forward. He has a great and fierce shot and is very aggressive in the box. Higuain wears the jersey number 20 and plays in adidas predator boots. The version in the photo is white with a bit of black or navy at the back.
The other player in the photo happens also to be an Argentinian international though not representing Real Madrid anymore. It is Gabriel Heinze formerly with Manchester United and Real Madrid but currently with Olympique Marseille.
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