By John eric gómez marín
The historical scorer of the DIM, the Argentine Germán Cano, spoke with EL COLOMBIANO and referred to his moment with the Fluminense of Brazil, his goals, his desire to retire in Medellín, and what happened with his nationalization to play with the Colombian National Team .
How is your present?
“It’s very good, with an important challenge in one of the biggest teams in Brazil like Fluminense. We are in the fight to enter the group stage of the Copa Libertadores, playing the Carioca championship and in April the Brasileirao will begin”.
He already scored goals with Fluminense and put the fans in his pocket…
“It’s what I know how to do, you have to work for it, with responsibility, commitment. You always train to score goals, that’s what I like, and I started very well. The people received me in the best way, I felt support from all the fans, so nothing, I’m happy to be in Fluminense and I hope it’s a great year for everyone”.
Are you still aware of Colombian soccer and the DIM?
“Yes, I didn’t see much of the games, I did see the results. I follow the page and find out what’s going on, because it’s difficult with the time difference. Sometimes I’m training, other times I’m resting, playing with my son and it’s difficult to follow game by game, but I know he’s playing very well. He started in a good way and I always wish Medellín the best, one gives strength to the team he wants”.
Do you know Luciano Pons, who has 6 goals with Medellín?
“I don’t know him, but I know that they are very happy with his arrival at the club and that is positive for all the good that it brings to the team. Several forwards have passed and he has a good present in this DIM. He is a compatriot and I hope that he can continue like this, in that same way, helping the team to enter the 8. I wish him all the best”.
Recently there was a publication on networks in which he responded to David González, who returned to the stadium for the first time as a fan, and wrote a few words about what that feeling meant. When do you see yourself returning to Independiente Medellín?
“That question is a bit difficult, because you know that football changes quickly. One day you are here, the next day you don’t know where you can be. Obviously I dream, at some point, to return, retire there, enjoy the last years of my career at the club I love very much. It would be nice for me. Later, to stay and live in the house we have there. In the future we could return, but I couldn’t tell you when. Logically, what David feels is something nice and later I could feel the same as another spectator watching the team of my loves.
In addition, an important link is being built between the former players and the administrative part. Now there is Roberto Carlos Cortés, David Montoya, there is talk of having Mao Molina and González himself. Do you think that this is positive for the referents?
“More than anything, it does the club good. I always say that the future of Medellín is young people, those who are just starting out, they are the basis of a team, a structure and an institution. We have to give a lot of importance to that part and at this moment the former players are coming to contribute because, obviously, they love the club too much. This does them very well. We hope that they can continue arriving to contribute all their knowledge, experience, things that are no longer available and can be taught to achieve great goals”.
Today, when Colombia needs a goal in the Qualifiers, there are already 7 games without scoring, many people wonder: What happened to their nationalization process?
“It was up in the air because in order to naturalize I had to spend two years in the country. She had already been a year and a half and had delivered all the papers to the State to process the passport, and this possibility of coming to Brazil came up, so I couldn’t do it. I had been released with Medellín, because they did not make use of the purchase option at that time, to give me a contract for one or two years. And the opportunity arose to come to Vasco and everything was up in the air. It was a shame because one loves Colombia very much, my son was born there and we are identified with Medellín. That was the idea, it was not possible and now it is a little late”.
And how do you analyze this moment of Colombia in the Qualifiers?
“Difficult, not only for Colombia but for several who are trying to fight for a pass to the World Cup. One makes him very strong, I want him to go to Qatar, he has two difficult games left and the pressure plays against him a little. I hope that the goal can be opened for the forwards to convert goals and thus gain confidence as a group”.
How have you seen the Argentine National Team?
“I see it very well, a solid team. What Scaloni did best was for him to play as a team and not depend only on Messi. He took that weight off him a little, that pressure that he had. It’s a firmer group on the court and doesn’t depend on Lio as much, so that’s positive for what’s to come”.
Have you had time to do other things, like play golf?
“It’s complex because here we play every 3 or 4 days, so the little time I have to enjoy it is with my son, at home when he returns from school. I don’t have time to go play golf, it’s difficult to have that routine that I had in Colombia. But hey, let’s see when we open up for a little while to go and clear ourselves over there”.
How is the physical part, no injuries?
“I’m fine, thank God, this year I haven’t had any injuries, I give a lot of importance to food, to rest. If you don’t rest well it’s hard to endure all the games. Luckily last year I played almost everything. So that makes it a positive thing, hopefully this year can continue like this. The body is everything in football, you have to pamper it”.
Flamengo and Fluminense are the biggest in Brazil, have you felt what it means to wear one of these shirts?
“They have fans everywhere, a very nice fan base, pretty, that makes you feel supported. The Brasileirao (in April) hasn’t started yet, we will surely be at the Maracana, the atmosphere will be something else there, so the pressure and the demand are always there”.
How is the covid issue now there?
“Almost the same, people continue to get infected. In January I suffered it for the third time and I have both vaccines; I did the antigens and I had antibodies at 94% immunity. It was difficult for it to happen and I got infected. So you have to keep taking care of yourself. Every 3 or 4 days you have to do tests.
What do you like about Brazil and what do you miss about Colombia?
“I miss the food a lot from Colombia, the patacones, the chocolo arepas. In addition to the paisa tray from time to time, because obviously it’s heavy. The meals are very different and I like to eat meat, between Brazilian and Argentine there is no point of comparison. In the rest, I miss Medellín, its people. Here it is difficult to go out, because I live playing, so the little time I have left I am at home with my son. We go to the beach for an hour from time to time.”
do you still have the dream
to wear the Argentina shirt?
“Yes, but I have to show, play and score goals for that. One sees it a bit far, but nothing is impossible. Football goes around a lot. Today I have an incredible opportunity here in the Flu and I hope to live up to it, compete at the highest level. You work for your club, to give it the best, so that things go well for you individually and collectively, and I leave everything in God’s hands”.
How do you see the renewal that Colombian football has? There are players in another stage like James and Falcao and others who have been emerging like Luis Díaz. Do you think that replacement is going to cost you a lot?
“No, I think Colombia is competitive, that’s why it has great players and has shown it throughout its history. The most top are James, Falcao and now Díaz in Liverpool. I believe in the future, in the base, in the projects of the Colombian teams that have improved a lot in recent years. Obviously it’s up to them to continue advancing, especially in intensity, their style and way of playing, which are very different from countries like Argentina and Brazil”.
How is that relationship with your son and football, do you like to watch his games, will you follow in his footsteps?
“Today he is on the subject of carts, he likes ramps a lot, the ball not much. One lets him be free, to do what he likes. Of course, he has balls to play with, but right now he doesn’t pay much attention to them, I hope that at some point he starts playing. We also plan to send him to a school in March.”
What is your big goal this season?
“The first is to enter the group stage of the Libertadores, then have a good tournament with Flu, be in the top positions and fight for the Brazilian Cup. That is my challenge from now to the end of the year, to score goals, to help the team improve. And continue learning as a player, contributing and helping the youngest”.
Until what age would you like to play professionally?
“Until 39 or 40 years old, but for that I have to do a special job. I have to eat and rest well. I hope there are no more injuries because as a footballer one is prone to those things, which are part of football”.
Finally, do you feel the support of Colombians abroad?
“Yes, a lot. Colombia is my second home, my family loves Colombians very much, me too. We feel at home every time we go there. And for me it is gratifying because I always treated everyone with respect and I think that is why they have that affection for me, I am only grateful to all Colombians”
