When the Cholo forged the Papu

Sevilla still hosts the Papu Gómez contest at the Wanda, since the Argentine did not exercise Thursday and Friday with the group. Lopetegui will clarify if he is ready to jump against Atlético and the coach who allowed him to make the jump as a player, Diego Pablo Simeone. Both, the Cholo and the Papu, They shared a team twice: in San Lorenzo de Almagro in Argentina and shortly after, in the Italian Catania.

First, Papu was very young, they coincided in the Buenos Aires club: “I was 20 years old and then I wanted to do things that I thought were good and they were not. Cholo always told me how he would have to play when he arrived in Europe and we discussed it, and in the end they bought me in Italy”, explains Papu Gómez.

And then, for just six months, at Catania. From January to June 2011: “When Cholo arrived in Catania he made me grow even more. His entire coaching staff are people I admire and that made me grow”, the now Nervionense player insists gratefully. “Simeone helped me change the way I see football. Cholo put me on the extreme and I didn’t want to know anything, but that helped me in Europe. Later he wanted me for Atlético de Madrid, but it couldn’t happen”, adds Papu.

It so happens that Diego Pablo Simeone also played for Sevilla and he also did so together with his compatriot Diego Armando Maradona, during the 92-93 campaign. El Papu has stated on more than one occasion the honor it means to wear, like El Pelusa, the white and red shirt: “For me, putting on the Sevilla shirt is putting on Maradona’s shirt. When we travel or go on the plane I ask Juan (Martagón, team delegate) things, so that he can tell me anecdotes about Diego. I feel the same in the selection. Putting on the Sevilla shirt is the best.”