Street Roots

Alejandro Darío Gomez, better known as Papu, smiles every time he can. He lives every day knowing the great gift life has gave him, living his dream, that ball that started to roll in the streets of Buenos Aires reaching the big stadiums in Argentina and Italy. We meet him in his Bergamo, where Papu - between an autograph and a picture on Instagram - is perfectly comfortable. Papu is the star of our last "Blue Blast" editorial with adidas football, a romantic novel about the path of every football enthusiast, a path that switches in adidas' latest releases, creating its collection "from stadium to street".

"Every time I come back to Argentina I always play
a five-a-side match in the street with my friends"

"Last year, I scored a gol straight from corner kick, it was memorable!"

Which is the best goal you've scored in a playground and the one you've scored in a stadium?

I remember a game in the youth academy, when I scored one of those goals when yoou start from half of the pitch and you dribble five or six opponents and then score. I remember that well, I was eight years old. In Serie A, I choose my goal at the Olimpico last season, straight from corner kick, it was memorable also because it isn't something you get to do all the time

Your first time
in a stadium?

I remember clearly the day of my try-out with Arsenal de Sarandì, in a eleven-a-side pitch, it was the first day of training. I was 10 and it seemed to me to have a very restricted visual, just one or two meters from my foot. I could'n see the pitch with enough largeness. Luckily, I had so much strength in the foot and I kicked very hard. That allowed me to score many goals, as the goalkeepers were very short and the goals very big.

Who's your idol?

I don't think to have a proper idol. I admire a lot of people, among which Marcelo Bielsa, for his life philosophy, his way to work. Also Guardiola, I've read all his books. On the field however, I grew up watching Aimar, Riquelme, their generation. I've been asked a lot about Maradona, I saw him play at Boca and it wasn't the real Diego.

"Playing on the streets helps you grow,
take important responsibilities"

The biggest teaching the street gave you?

A little bit of everything, but most of all I believe that playing with friends gives you a great sense of responsibility. Of course there were your parents intimating you to come back home before sunset, but staying on the street helps you grow, take important responsibilities. At the same time, you feel free and you get to do everything you couldn't have done with your parents alone.

An advice you would give to a boy who's beginning to play on the street?

I think you always have to have some luck in life, but you also have to look for it, you have to be positive and fight for what you want. And then sacrifice, that without any doubt is essential for working and trying to improve every day.