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-Why did you go to live in Andorra, Javier, a place with just 76 thousand inhabitants?
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-It occurred to me when I stopped playing at River. In 2015. For a friend who lived here. I had already come before, when I was in Barcelona. It is next to Spain and France. Since that time I had loved it. For the country, for security … At that time I did not imagine coming. I liked it, period. When I retired, then, I thought about settling in Europe. And there the first option I thought was Andorra and then direct my future. I checked what they had told me. Education for boys is very good. There is a lot of security. We adapt barbaric. Today I have been in this place for three years and I am happy in Andorra.
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-When you walk down the street in Andorra do people know who Saviola is?
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-It is Javier the neighbor and also Saviola the footballer. As there are many Argentines, when I go down the street there are soccer fanatic people who at some point were on River’s field or who saw me in a game … There are also many people from Spain who live here and saw Barsa games. And as the country is so small, you meet people and they know who you are. For me it is very nice. That after having stopped playing the fan keeps giving you love is special.
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-Thought with Argentine eyes, Andorra, what place does it look like?
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-The closest thing, let’s say, is Villa La Angostura. Through the ski centers. Here in winter there are many Argentines because the boys come to do the season and stay those six months. I like to ski but I’m not a fan. I didn’t grab his hand very much, ha. My daughter does it much better than I do. He loves it. I wear it every weekend when there is snow. I really enjoy watching her. In those cold times there is a lot of tourism. You live very well here. There is a lot of mountains. Places to go running, athletics. There are a lot of sports people. So when I can, I get together with people linked to other activities. There are also Argentine restaurants. There are five grills. And places to buy empanadas, milanesas … We feel accompanied.
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-Is the language Catalan?
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-Yes. Because we are next to Barcelona. My children have four languages. In everyday life it is Catalan. At school they add English and French. And at home we speak Spanish. It is important. I wanted my children to have a good education.
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-How do you live the coronavirus? There is no army for catastrophes, everything is handled with the Police. How is it?
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-The country has been organized excellently. Despite having infections and deaths, of course. People have taken a lot of precaution. That was important. No people are seen on the street. Quarantine is not skipped. And with the Police always aware of what happens. The hospitals, very attentive. One lives with the sadness of losses but with great caution. A few days ago it was already enabled to move up to a kilometer from your home.
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-That awareness is key because it is a small place.
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-Yes. It is a relatively small country and everyone here knows what can happen if it expands. Here and in the world really. So I say that it has surprised how well people behaved. How well the police handled it. As they saw that behavior, a little margin began to be left. Same, with rules. For example, you can go jogging but always with your chinstrap on. Today we go out and we realize that they are really fulfilled. Not because they give you a little freedom you are going to do crazy.
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Saviola’s photos always look like the first day at River. Or those of his entire career. With the National Team shirt, that of Barcelona, Monaco, Seville, Real Madrid, Benfica, Malaga, Olympiacos, or Hallas Verona. At 38, his features are almost the same as he was at 16, when Ramón Díaz made his debut in Primera. Just a little less expensive as a baby, some gray hair that gives him away. El Pelado told him Pibito, exactly, since he saw him dribble at speed in the Reserve. Since those days of huge appearance Saviola was a normal boy. The praise or dizzying fame never changed him. He was able to open the doors of his family home on Calle Dragones on a Sunday night after his first goal for Boca at the Monumental. As he now speaks in the same tone after his sometimes poorly sized career in Argentina. At Barsa he played 123 games and scored 49 goals, for example. Head of Argentina in Germany 2006. Those who keep their last runs in Gallardo’s River 2015 fall into an injustice. They don’t know who Saviola is.
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He is heard happily in Andorra. There he lives with Romanela Amato, his Argentine partner, model. And with her children Julieta (6) and Fabricio (5). Saviola misses the adrenaline rush of the full court. But he thinks he made the right choice when he hung up on number 7. Now he comments on games on television. Play futsal. And more than once he does the two hundred and twenty-five kilometers that separate him from Barcelona and throws walls with the legends of the club. With Puyol, Rivaldo, Hristo Stoichkov, Deco … “I still enjoy sharing the dressing room even though I am not an active footballer,” he says. It is no longer the Pibito who came to River at eight in the morning to go to school and I just returned home at night. The poster hanging from the Burrito Ortega was far away. The same, in the chat with Infobae, it seems the same. As in the photos …
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-Was the Monkey Burgos kick so strong in your third practice with the First of River or did the myth grow?
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-Yes. It is one of the kicks that I remember most in my life. Look, they hit me, huh, but that one was very brave. At first, when I throw the ball forward, I don’t see the Monkey coming. Then yes … When I go define I see the shadow of him. There I did know what I expected. The kick was terrible, ha. It hurts to this day.
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-Are you Maradona with Perfume you asked him if his foot hurt the consecrated guy or did Burgos apologize?
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-Obviously he didn’t apologize. I had not debuted in First. Nor had concentrated. He came from being with the boys from Third … Not being a partner, he was one more. Besides, it was like that before. They hit you. You had to pay that right to get to Primera.
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-In those days Saviolita wanted to be the Burrito Ortega.
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-I’m from River. And Ariel was always my idol. I was trying to be a bitch just to see the Burrito. I had tremendous admiration for him. The father worked at the club and I drove him crazy. Every time I went to school I asked him for T-shirts, tickets to go and analyze him … Years after having him as a partner was spectacular. It was sharing a locker room and a court with my idol. It was great one day when he came to my house, near the Monumental. Ariel knew that she admired him but I didn’t tell her out of shyness. Until the first time I invited him. I made him come into my room. And suddenly, when he turned around, on the back of the door was his poster. It was very uncomfortable at first. I didn’t know whether to tell him to sign it or run away …
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-What is it like to be 16 years old and for Ramón Díaz to come and say “come in” for your debut in Primera?
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-You don’t forget anymore. I had tremendous nerves. Imagine: I was going to debut in the Primera de River. Ramón grabbed me, said two or three words and reassured me. He was a specialist in taking pressure off, giving security to the player. And once I spoke to him, I said to myself “there is no more time, it is what I wanted to do all my life, I have to demonstrate something on the court.” There I went and even made a goal. It was against Jujuy Gymnastics, there. I entered the second half through Cristian Castillo. It was great.
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– In the Juvenile World-wide one 2001 you felt Maradona? Olympic return in Argentina, figure of the team …
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– I did not feel Maradona, but it was a peak moment. I enjoyed being in a privileged group. That he played soccer well. People hooked a lot with us and filled Vélez. The court exploded. Crazy. We were supported by the fan, the journalism. Pekerman had re-directed the Under 20. There was a tremendous positive avalanche thinking of being world champions. And once it was awarded it was a double prize. To be the scorer of the World Cup, with the record of goals in the Youth; become champion in the country, with that exceptional group … Everything was given.
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-The day the champions came out they formed with Caballero; Cetto, Burdisso, Colotto; Ponzio, Medina, Arca; Maxi Rodríguez, Romagnoli; D’Alessandro and you. There was Lux, Chori Domínguez was injured. The final was not played by Captain Coloccini due to yellow accumulation and you raised the Cup by adding it to him.
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-Tremendous. We have a WhatsApp group with all the champion boys. We always start chatting. With D’Alessandro, the Pipi, Maxi … All great professionals. But that World Cup marked us for life. It was something spectacular. Today people do not forget how that team played. And that hardly happens … Having so much football, so much technique, so much offensive play. The time marked that later they were great in Europe.
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-There arises your departure to Barcelona. A complex situation for your dad’s health. At the time you wrote a letter explaining your need to leave.
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-I thought it was an excellent time to take the leap. And more to such a large club. At the end of the World Cup I already knew about the interest. In fact there was a lot of expectation in Barcelona. I remember that the last matches were already on television in Catalonia …
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-How was it when they said “Javier, Barcelona loves you”?
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-Barcelona moves the floor. I came from being at River, from achieving the U20 World Cup, but Barsa always mobilizes you. It is a dream to play in one of the most important clubs in the world. And then he had in mind that he must be prepared. He was very young, 19 years old, and knew the requirement. Plus the maturity necessary to live two moments. The pass and my dad’s state of health. That was difficult to assimilate, very hard. Along the way, you also have to perform at your best because you play for Barsa.
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-You once said that going to Barcelona allowed you to take your father’s death a little better.
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-Yes. I was going to train and I isolated myself. I love soccer, it is my passion. Or it was my passion. So he was happy with training. Although later I had to go home and feel the pain of my dad’s death … Soccer has helped me a lot in every way. It was my escape route. It made me feel happy despite the pain.
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-Is it true that it was Xavi who ended up giving you the worst news?
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-Yes. We were focused together in the room. I remember that I traveled with my dad very badly, very complicated. We were expecting it … I was talking to my mom and it was a matter of days how bad she was living. When the phone rang at night, I imagined it. Xavi answered and told me. The next day I got up, took the first plane and turned. Was strong. On top of that, we had only recently met. Xavi was undoubtedly the first to help me in Barcelona when I arrived. His family introduced me, he let me know what the club was like, the city. He was the best person I could have by my side. And also how difficult it is to give you such sad news. But it brought us so close together as friends. Today we talk to each other all the time. Despite being away and I haven’t seen him for a long time, it is a very great friendship. Like the one I have with Pablo Aimar. Aimar and Xavi have been the great friends I have had throughout my career.
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-What was the first Messi like? The presentation note in Olé’s title was “El otro Pibito” because you were the Argentine figure of Barcelona.
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-I remember that I arrived in Barcelona and the first thing that Charles Rexach, who was the coach, told me was that if I had time I would see a boy who played in the Lower. That he was Argentine. He described everything to me. And he told me verbatim: “If you have a little time, go see it and you will not regret it.” I saw it so effusive that I said “it has to be something spectacular, that it surprises you”. So that an established coach like Rexach, who had seen so many great players in his life, would tell you like this … Then I went. And as soon as I saw Messi I realized that he was someone else. He did things that were not normal for his age. Although honestly that day I did not imagine that Leo could become one of the best players in history.
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– Later they had relation with Messi?
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-As we were both in Barsa, in another country, we began to share more time. To get together with families to eat. Not only with him, but also with other Argentines such as Tito Bonano, Maxi López, or those who arrived … Among them was Leo. From there we create a very special bond.
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– Did Messi ever ask you to meet Pablo Aimar, his idol, or was he ashamed?
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-No. Only at the time did I know that I admired Pablo so much. I heard it in an interview. Leo had not told me. But it did not surprise me anything that Leo has set eyes on a player of Pablo’s quality.
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-Did you surprise Aimar coach? For a moment it seemed that he was going to move away from the world of football, that he did not like the atmosphere.
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-It didn’t surprise me. I’ve known him since he was 19 years old. Or smaller. I know how he likes soccer. The intelligence you have. He has had great teachers like Pekerman in the training stage, which is where he is now. For all that he was as a player and as a professional, and for the knowledge he acquired, the boys cannot have a better teacher than Aimar.
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-In those times in Barcelona you shared the court with Ronaldinho. Were you surprised to see him in prison now?
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-Yes. The world of soccer surprised him. More to those of us who were his companions and enjoyed his football. I played with the best Ronaldinho. It was a crazy thing. Plus what it meant to us also as a person. He always behaved very well. He never came to the locker room with worried concern. He said soccer was fun. Now the situation is really very sad. When you see Ronaldinho in a prison it seems like you are watching a movie. You say “it cannot be true that one of the best players that football has ever given is experiencing such a situation.” Hopefully I can reverse everything and be happy again.
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– Messi said something to you when you went to Real Madrid?
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-No. No one said anything to me at the time. When I went to Real Madrid, I repeated that I just wanted to continue my professional career upwards. A club like Real Madrid came and I didn’t think much about it.
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-Were you looking forward to the 2006 World Cup? You were surprised that you weren’t a starter in the match with Germany.
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– I stayed with more desire like all. Because of the group we had. The union, the professionalism, how well we got along. And for the players we had. Two very important generations had come together. Young people, others with experience, some with two or three World Cups on top … What surprised us all was not having gone any further with the team we had.
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– In River yes you had been wanting more. How did you live the last step?
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-I always wanted to retire at River. And there were very nice things at that time. Being in a tremendously successful group, both with the coaching staff and with the players. Feel how people were involved in that important moment of River in its history. Win the Copa Libertadores. Because despite not having continuity playing, he was within the group. I will always remember it. Later, I would have liked to retire in another way. Inside the court …
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-Is that one of Gallardo’s secrets, not choosing faces? Because Aimar and Saviola must be left out …
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-I think so too. A coach has to do with the best he has in his team and not be taken by names, fame or what his careers were. Both Marcelo and many coaches I have had thought the same. Mind you, when I got to River I believed the same. I wanted to enter without privilege in a group that came from winning important things, at a high level. It was not easy. But it took me to have met excellent professionals. People who have treated me a thousand wonders, with much respect and humility.
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– What struck you most about Gallardo coach?
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-Marcelo was struck by ambition. Despite having already won, he is a coach who wants to continue entering history. He does not stay with what he did. That ambition, the demand that it imposes on the player means that he has won everything he won. The numbers speak for themselves. For some reason he is one of the great technicians that our country has given in recent years.
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-You know Gallardo and Barcelona. Do you think at some point you can look it up?
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– Right now Marcelo is among the best technicians out there. I don’t think it will take long to make the leap to Europe. Hopefully you can do it if it’s your idea. I think Gallardo can direct anywhere. He also played in Europe and knows how things are handled here. It is not that he goes and does not know what is behind. He is a trained coach to succeed in Europe.
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-Do you see Lautaro Martínez as a 9 for Barcelona?
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-Yes. I love. Of those who are now, Lautaro is one of the most forward forwards he has in the world. It has absolutely everything. He can play, throw walls, he has a goal, a lot of smell. He is a very complete center-forward. And Barcelona has always been characterized by having great forwards. I don’t think Lautaro will let him escape if he does go. I don’t know what the negotiation is like. Play big like Inter. But Lautaro is a striker who would not be too great to play for Barcelona.
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-And where do you see yourself playing in the future: TV commentator, futsal striker or a new role?
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– I am very restless. My life was always that way. I lived in different cities for a short time. I played in several clubs in my career. And now I am focused on communication. In the future I will see. I have the UEFA Pro course to see how I get involved. I would also love to start with the boys. Train the player. Give it values. I will see. But always looking for the best for my future. Like the day I decided to come and live in Andorra.
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