“I knew I would be world champion sooner or later. I saw it in their hands, in their expressions, in everything. no better than anyone Pepe Santoro Pronouncing those words days after Argentina was declared world champion in a match starring Dibu Emiliano Martínez. Legendary Hercules goalkeeper from 1974 to 1977, currently goalkeeping coach. Independent Athletics ClubHe was one of his supporters when he took his first steps in Argentina. “I was very in tune with him. I saw special and impressive qualities in him. Everything he has achieved has been based on hard work and sacrifice. I am glad that he comes from a humble family and he deserves everything that happens to him,” Santoro explained to this newspaper yesterday from Argentina, where he followed the news of Hercules with “sadness”.
“Now I prefer to talk about the Argentina team and Dibu,” decides the former goalkeeper, who can only speak well of his past in Alicante. Santoro remembers when Dibu discussed his offer to leave his native Argentina and go to England. “I went with him for ten days and we had a lot of time to talk and decide if he would come. There they saw him playing and They had no doubt that they would get a great goalkeeper who would succeed.», says the former Hercules player, who explained that Dibu had some doubts at the time: «He had to think a lot about it, he was very young and had to make an important decision, but he wanted to succeed in the world. I was clear that he would not lack the qualifications for football, so I encouraged him to step up. Thus, he signed for Arsenal, where he dazzled. He then went to a few more English teams and came to Getafe to sign. He returned to Arsenal in 2020 and despite excellent performances, he was transferred to Aston Villa in September for an impressive figure that made him the most expensive Argentine goalkeeper in history.
“I spoke to him before the World Cup to wish him good luck, I hope to see him soon to congratulate him.”. “I was sure that I would be the world champion,” says Santoro, who admitted that he was afraid for the Argentina team in the final. “When France drew in just two minutes, I feared the worst. Then I had a really bad time in extra time but curiously when the penalties came I was calmed because I was sure Dibu would stop someone,” explained the former Hercules goalkeeper, “I’m so happy” for the Argentine championship. He is clear that he will bring much more joy to European football. “One thing I am thankful for. He tried it at Dibu, River and Boca and they were not interested,” he added.
Before coming to Alicante, Santoro had become a true legend of Independiente, having played more than 300 matches since 1961. Among the numerous championships stood out 4 Libertadores and the 1973 Intercontinental against Juventus de Zoff, Gentile or Bettega. Of course, in the “red” eleven defended by Santoro, it’s the side where a beginner Bochini, Bertoni, or Commisso, who will come to Hercules a year later, shines. Now, even from afar, with an occasional trip to Alicante, where he has a grandchild, Heracles continues his news with “regret”. “It was a terrible team when I played there, and now it’s in the fourth category. “I want him to get out of there and come back with the big ones,” the legendary Hercules keeper finished.