Who is the one with the long trousers?: the story of Jeremías Martinet, the goalkeeper who could play for Chile and today is Scaloneta’s sparring partner

The image circulated Sunday evening. In Philadelphia, as part of the advance of the delegation of Argentina national team who is on tour in the United States, AFA He released a photo on his social media showing nine players. There were three kings of Qatar 2022 (Nicolás Tagliafico, Julián Álvarez and Cristian Cuti Romero), a moral champion (Gio Lo Celso), two that are already part of the renewal of Staircase (Nehuén Pérez and Facundo Goodnight) and two teenagers asking for a clue (the Valentines Carboni and Barca). But in the middle, at the center of the scene, you could see it a little boy with messy bangs and long pants that everyone on social media was wondering who he was. An enthusiast? A friend? Neither one nor the other.

The boy in the photo is Jeremiah Martinet. And who is it? He is the only sparring partner he has brought to Lionel Scaloni to complete the team’s preparation in view of the double match against The Saviour AND Costa Rica. As Federico Gomes Gerththe world champion sparring partner, he is a goalkeeper and is 18 years old. And its story is quite particular. Here we are.

First, a spoilers: Martinet could have played for Chile. The boy, however, said no to the proposal of the Transandean federation and waited for his opportunity. And the well-deserved award arrived a few days later. But better, to be organized, start from the beginning.

Jeremías was born on August 30, 2005. He has a French father and an Argentine mother, but he saw the light and lived in the neighboring country until the age of five.. Then he moved to Cordoba. He started playing Deportivo Lasallano and then it happened Watchtower, the same club where Julián Álvarez started. the same Spider who poses in the photo to a defender of of Udinesecall him Nehuén Pérez, from afar.

He played in the Cordoban League until 2023 when he came on River’s radar. At the end of that year he received the call from Chile and a few days later from Argentina, but he chose to take the shortcut with the colors and gloves of the world champion team.

The person who helped him get to River was the sporting director of Atalaya, Piero Foglia. His advice was fundamental in sealing his destiny. Martinet stands out for his physique and Foglia, in a note to La Voz, recognized that he is a boy “who has his feet on the ground and many conditions”. Atalaya appreciated his saves during the tour that the Córdoba club made through Spain.

“He has an impressive physique. It was part of a historic tour we did across Spain to compete for the Mallorca Cup to which Alberto Beltrán accompanied us. He was also tried in Venice, Italy. He speaks French and English,” Foglia commented in the same interview.

Their professionalism had already been evident during the pandemic. Far from doing nothing, Martinet trained individually and via Zoom with his Atalaya colleagues.

River took him over and it was impossible to keep him. “He left at the beginning of 2023. He has great maturity. What he experienced was uncommon. But he has his feet on the ground and many conditions,” added Foglia.

Chile had called him to compete with La Roja in the 2023 Promesas Tournament which took place in Paraguay. Martinet ended up playing that competition with River. And he had the pleasure of being the champion of that home run in which Cerro Porteño and Inter de Porto Alegre were also involved.

The boy was chosen as the best goalkeeper of the tournament and had the least obstacle defeated. Despite his good performances in the youth divisions, he didn’t even earn minutes in River Reserve.

“The sensations are too good, surprising, because it all happened very quickly, it gave me little time to think about it, process it and evaluate where I am. Being in the national team is very strong and every player wants to be here,” the goalkeeper explained to the page Atalaya’s Facebook after the first call-up in blue and white.

He’s not talking about this US tour, but about his first time as a sparring partner for Scalonetaduring the double date of Qualifiers which predicted defeat against Uruguaywith Marcelo Bielsa on the opposite bench, and the victory over Brazil, which marked the end of an era: that green yellow They had never lost at home on the way to the World Cup.

On that occasion, Martinet also added that “training with the national team is every boy’s dream and being able to see Messi, Dibu (Martínez), the leaders of this national team is something inexplicable”.

Messi won’t be on the tour, but Dibu will. Martinet lives his dream. Maybe, in a few years, people will wonder who is next to them in a photo of the national team.

Similar case in Bolivia

Over the weekend, the archer’s story became known David Akolongo that fights inside Sunrise from Cochabamba. Antonio Carlos Zago He was called up to represent Bolivia on this date FIFAthe problem is that the selection of Ghanathe goalkeeper’s hometown also called him up for friendly matches.

Despite receiving both calls, he ultimately chose the South American team. “It’s already decided, I’m staying for Bolivia“, said the goalkeeper. However, according to the new FIFA rules, a player must be “armored” must play three friendly or official matches.