“First kick, then run” – Freiburg’s record transfer Baptiste Santamaria has many facets

The Freiburg record transfer Baptiste Santamaria has been with SC for four weeks. After the first Bundesliga games, the Frenchman feels comfortable in Breisgau and appreciates the Bundesliga.

It is the 64th minute of the game between SC Freiburg and VfL Wolfsburg on the second day of the Bundesliga. After a corner kick by Vincenzo Grifo, the ball comes to Freiburg’s new record man: Baptiste Santamaria. He briskly sprints to the ball, aims at the ball and target and simply hits it with a solid left-footed shot. Perfect shot, almost perfect. VfL goalkeeper Pavao Pervan palms the ball away with the tips of his fingers. It hits the left post. Not much was missing for a perfect debut.

Number eight is the new six

The Frenchman has now been in his new home in Breisgau for almost a month. He has arrived. The defensive midfielder played the first two games over the entire playing distance. Jersey number eight is the new six at SC. And the Freiburg team paid a lot for that: With the ten million transfer fee, Santamaria is the most expensive transfer in the club’s history. But that doesn’t bother the 25-year-old: “The sports directors here told me not to worry about the amount. I see the transfer as a bit of a reward for the work I’ve done so far.” , says Santamaria of the “Badische Zeitung”.

In fact, the first job reference was very positive. The right foot, who so far only speaks French, stands out above all for his solid and yet unspectacular manner that serves the team. But then everything has not yet succeeded, in addition to the first goal, the newcomer from SCO Angers is waiting for the first three with his Freiburgers: After the 1-1 draw against Wolfsburg in Dortmund there was nothing to get at 0: 4. The French is particularly impressed by the speed of the game in the Bundesliga: “Unlike in Ligue 1, there are no phases in which the game is built up rather calmly. Attack, loss of the ball, counter-pressing, everything is tak-tak-tak here.”

International break at the right time

So the eight will still need some time to finally integrate into the “prank system”. The current international break should help to get used to the new colleagues. The subject of the senior national team still seems unlikely. For France, Santamaria has played three times for the U20 national team. The better the Freiburg can build their record man sustainably.

Not just football in your head

The newcomer has also arrived privately: “I’ve found a nice house here in the surrounding area, my wife and our three-year-old son Leam will be coming next week”. But the family is not yet complete. In addition to soccer, “Santa” has another passion: equestrian sport. “My godmother owned horses, I was able to ride horses as a little boy,” he told the “Badische Zeitung”. He now owns three horses that remain in the stable in France. He recognizes many parallels between professional footballers and racehorses: “The training, the nutrition tailored to optimal performance, the focus on the competition – all of these are very similar with us.” This is one of the reasons why he can develop a strong bond with the animals. “I recognize a lot about my horses and this makes it easier for me to understand the animals and to develop a relationship.”

Sympathy for Freiburg

The ambitious Frenchman is still working on his bond with the SC and his teammates. “It was basically a heartfelt decision,” said the Bourges-raised kicker, justifying his decision in favor of Freiburg. Well-known teams like SSC Napoli or FC Villareal were rejected. The 25-year-old formulates his goals clearly: “I just want to do my thing here, play well and be successful with Freiburg.” This can be shown by the man who, according to his parents, first “could kick and then run”, again on Saturday at the home game against SV Werder Bremen. Maybe it will work out with the first goal. Or at least with the first three. The team player would certainly prefer that.

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