Claudio Edgar Benetti He was 21 when he entered the goal area leading to Casa Amarilla and took a right cross whiplash that got stuck against the right post of the goal that was guarded by Patón, Francisco Eduardo Guillén. That Sunday, December 20, 1992, Mouth drew 1-1 with San Martín de Tucumán and became the champion of the Apertura. Benetti celebrated hanging from the fence and reached the pinnacle of his career too quickly.

The man born in Córdoba 51 years ago now works at Properties of the mouth, the facilities that the club owns in Ezeiza and where all the youth divisions and the squad of the First Division train. He arrived there by decision of JJuan Roman Riquelmethe first vice president of the club, who, when he learned of the difficult moment Benetti was going through, did not hesitate to give him a hand.

This Tuesday, in the program that Alessandro Fantino drive on ESPN, Benetti was the guest of honor and told his story with a raw story: “I come from a place where I have always appreciated the help. I came to Boca because there were people who helped me and when I was able to help those people, I gave it to them. Because I can’t forget the people who helped me get up there. My coaches, my contacts, my friends. People who are out of work, I go and tag with my name which, despite me being out of fashion, some still remember. This serves me as a key to make them work, to find work.

“I’ve made a lot of sacrifices to get what little I have,” he told the ESPN Show. “Life is a back and forth. I was up there and I never believed it. I was down and never believed it. What I struggle with is understanding how people keep remembering me if I’m out of time. There are many other established players and yet the people of Boca remember me. That’s why I say that the Boca fan is special “, he said surprised by the recognition of the fans.

With tears in his eyes and visibly moved, Benetti recounted how his return to society was after a period in which he was out of work: “I took football as a job and I appreciated where I was, where I am because many would like to be at my place. Yet they are. I work in the club and it’s like being at home. Roman gave me a big hand, I’m not ashamed to say things. Three years ago I owed everyone money, I couldn’t buy anything from my children. And my kids didn’t notice. I’ve been through a bad time. I am a happy boy because I have a job. When you don’t have a job you don’t know where you are, you don’t fit in with society. I was in that place … “

“It’s still today that I don’t understand why he gave me a hand. I come from another generation and maybe you didn’t know me. I’m there in the club for him (Riquelme). I talked about it, he listened to my message and then the people of the Soccer Council called me, especially Chelo Delgado. I wasn’t busy and everything goes through your head in that state. We see that at seven in the morning people go to work and you are home. I’m 51, tell him I’m leaving the club. Where do I go at 51? As the country is, you are already old ”, added Benetti.

“I became a machinist (NDE: he was assistant driver of the Belgrano Sur railway line), he sold ice. I’ve never felt more or less than anyone. Are my children okay? I ask nothing of life. Now I can bathe twice a day with hot water, before it was with cold water. Now I feel privileged. I’m not ashamed to say it. When you’re over there you start slapping like you’re drowning. It goes in search of doors that are believed to be open and turn out to be closed. You have to keep your head down. “

Benetti currently works in the youth academies, in Ezeiza, together with Roberto Passucci, another of the players remembered by the Boca fans.