The historic winger defends his compatriot and discusses other current affairs.
By means of Adrian Campmany
Few people had such a special connection to the World Cup that Argentina won in Qatar as Juan Pablo Sorín (Buenos Aires, 1976). Before going through clubs like Juventus, Barcelona, PSG, Villarreal or River Plate, Sorín was one of the members of the 1995 U-20 World Cup who won the albiceleste right on Qatari soil. That experience led him to produce a documentary: ‘Once upon a time in Qatar’. The former international joins in goal hours before the premiere at the Táctica Festival, which takes place in Barcelona from May 4 to 7.
-What was the experience of making a documentary like?
-Fantastic. It is the first documentary we have made together with my partner Sol Alac. We had done podcasts, TV shows… But never a documentary. There are unpublished camera recordings of our physiotherapist, Gerardo Salorio, and our kinesiologist, Raúl Lamas. The title evokes a story because it was a magical story that changed our lives. We try to convey the importance of values in a time like the end of adolescence, when you have more questions than answers.
-How did you experience the third World Cup in Argentina from Qatar? It must have been special to see former teammates crowned world champions.
I felt very happy and very proud. Messi, Scaloni, Aimar, Walter Samuel, Ayala… They are my friends, they are lovely people. The boys crowned our efforts. I was able to experience the World Cup with my family and other colleagues, it was beautiful. We deserved this joy and we will always remember it. We will have those players forever.
-How Messi’s history with Argentina has changed!
-It’s a sensational message for the little ones. Don’t give up despite criticism or personal disappointment because you haven’t achieved something. Don’t stop, don’t give up and keep going. Leo has shown it with his commitment, his preparation and of course his talent. Messi played his best World Cup. He carried the flag of leader in the most difficult moments and his presence was constant. The world wanted Leo to be world champion. It was a universal thought that Leo couldn’t retire without a World Cup.
-You made his debut with Argentina and you said a few words to him when they sent him off after 47 seconds.
It was a sad afternoon for everyone. We were happy because Leo was going to debut. It was a historic moment for world football and the referee colored it with sadness that day. We wanted to hug him, to contain him. And of course, you debut at 18, this happens to you and you think you won’t come back. It occurred to me to tell him, “You’re going to play as long as you want with Argentina.” It was something he didn’t know, but he also didn’t know what his ceiling would be, because what he had already done in the youth teams was incredible and what showed in every game.
-What do you think of the PSG ultras’ insults to Leo?
It hurts to see what is happening now. I don’t know what will happen in the next few hours or what will happen in the future, I always wish him well. It was a difficult situation for him to leave Barcelona at the time. I think he gave PSG extraordinary moments. The dream is the Champions League and every elimination hurts. I see the insults unfair, I see them absurd. I wish the ending between Leo and Paris was different because of the love I have for both parties. It shouldn’t have ended like this.
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-You are very involved in women’s football. How do you see his evolution and what Barcelona is achieving?
-I live it with happiness and am committed to making visible what the players, the technicians and the communicators achieve. We had a fantastic Copa América in which Brazil was no longer so superior in the final. We saw the evolution of Colombia, Argentina, Paraguay, Venezuela… The support of the federations is very important. You have to keep moving forward. As for Barça… It’s crazy. It is an investment and a role model. Both in the previous cycle with Lluís Cortés and now, the team continues to show hunger to always win. Fortunately for football, Alexia returned, but they practically have two teams. You have Aitana, Mariona, Mapi, Pina… It’s an extraordinary team.
-How do you see the future of Argentine football?
-Argentina continues to attract players. It is very important that the management of the clubs is transparent and that they can survive without a crisis like the one that Independiente, for example, is now facing. That stipulates that the clubs must sell the players at a very young age. Argentina has that ‘duty’ to eliminate players.
-What did you think when you saw Nico Paz, who was not born in Argentina, crying after being eliminated from the U-20 World Cup?
-That moment was very difficult. It is precisely in ‘Once upon a time in Qatar’ that we tell many such stories. For the boys it was painful but also educational. Every scar marks you in your career. It is a pity that we lose talents like Vitor Roque or Garnacho in a U-20 World Cup because the clubs want to keep them. It’s understandable, but hopefully there’s a date in the future and the world can see those players.
Source: Goal