Two years is more than enough for the friendship to be born, flow and strengthen. That was the time they shared Claudio pizarro and the Argentine defender Santiago García in Werder Bremen, which led them to be happy on the court, and also outside it. The 41-year-old attacker surprised him in September 2016, arriving in Rosario for an unforgettable day, his marriage.
García, a player from Unión La Calera, spoke from Chile to RPP News about his relationship with Claudio Pizarro, just a few days from what appears to be the Peruvian’s last two games.
How did the relationship with Claudio (Pizarro) start?
Obviously, you are in a country where you do not speak Spanish, the first thing you look for is your mother tongue and the people who speak it. Having Claudio in the dressing room is the first person you talk to. We both liked each other, our families. So we made a very good relationship.
What meaning does Claudio Pizarro have for the city and the team?
Not only in Bremen, I would say that in Germany they know him in an incredible way for the 20 years that he has made a career. But for the people of Bremen, especially, it is a living legend. The city is immediately related to him. If you ask about Bremen, Pizarro’s face comes to mind. So imagine, the club’s greatness is on par with it.
What is he like as a companion and leader?
He is a person who gradually enters into confidence, his reserved character; I thought I was a more open person at first. As a leader, seeing it imposes
a presence, an image, it is not necessary to yell at you, to say two words, you realize who is saying it, being a super positive person, always.
How did you convince him to go to your marriage in Argentina?
It was even strange that he comes to Argentina for a vacation, because having it was very important for my wife and me. It was good for us to have a South American couple, it made our families come together, and well, they decided between them to attend the marriage. For us it was an incredible surprise. There you realize what he is as a person.
Did he stay long?
He stayed approximately three days.
Was your marriage in your hometown?
Yes, it was in Rosario.
Did he tell you about the Peruvian National Team?
The truth, in general we talked more about life, not so much about football. But if he told me how he felt about Peru, he was a leader in every way. At that time it was coming quite well, he scored 14 goals. So he had to step on the gas to be called.
What about Alianza Lima?
He knew that he played in Alliance and also in a (Sports) Fishing team. Every once in a while we made jokes about it, but with a little humor, obviously. From Alianza Lima he told me that he was pending, that he always followed him online, wherever he was. That I can assure you.
Claudio one more year?
Hopefully he will give us that ‘bump’ and say I want to continue, I feel good, I feel strong, I am important to the team I play, be Werder Bremen, be Alianza Lima, wherever, wherever,
Retire in Alliance, you said?
I don’t know, that’s more his decision, but there if we could he would end (his career) with a flourish.
– .
