The most successful and internationally recognized Peruvian player - for many - says goodbye to the soccer fields today (10:30 a.m.) in a farewell match on German soil. The club where he smiled the most, Werder Bremen, organized the 'Claudio's Party' with VIP guests and La República was able to talk to the 'Bomber' before the expected day, which will take place at the Weserstadion in Bremen.
—How did you face this new reality?
—It's a big change, something completely different for which you are not prepared. I am calm and happy with what I do. I am still involved in soccer and I will continue like this for the rest of my life because it is something I want and enjoy doing, obviously not as committed as I was as a player, that's why I have decided not to be a coach, because I want to enjoy some time for myself and my family.
—Was it the ending you expected?
—I can tell you that yes, it was the ending I expected because I didn't get relegated with Werder Bremen and that's what we were looking for, but on the other hand, I can tell you that no because there were no people in the stadium, the pandemic did not allow us to enjoy the fans, that's why it is difficult to tell you if it was the ending I expected or not. In reality, it was the ending that came at that moment.
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—Why aren't there any Peruvians among the guests?
—There are no Peruvian players, only my brother who has come to be with me, because he plays for the national team and it would have been inviting players who have played with me before and many of those who are now not, I didn't want to have that disappointment. Added to that is the idea of having a farewell in Peru.
—Is there something already planned for that farewell?
—For me, it is important to enjoy with most of the players I was with in the national team, at Alianza, Pesquero, hopefully most of them can come. Once tomorrow's (today's) event is over, I will start rethinking things to have the farewell in Peru.
—Where would that farewell be?
—I still do not know in which stadium, but I would obviously like it to be in Matute, I leave it there with that idea.
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—Will we see Pizarro again alongside Vargas, Guerrero, and Farfán?
—Certainly, the three of them will be invited, and hopefully many more can come.
—What would today's Claudio say to the young man who started this journey?
—I have achieved many important things, I have made mistakes and you grow, move forward. I would applaud him, I would say 'you did very well, you had a good career and you should be proud of what you have achieved and now pass on that experience to the people who come after you'.
—What would you say to the young players who are earning a place, like Jairo Concha, Piero Quispe...?
—I have seen Jairo Concha play at Alianza and in the national team, he seems like a good player and what I would tell him is that if there is an opportunity to compete abroad, take advantage of it because you see soccer from a different perspective, in a different way, that helps you grow as a player. In addition, Peruvian soccer is not going through a good moment and you can see that in international tournaments.
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—What do you think of Reynoso's arrival to the national team?
—I know Juan very well, I have played with him, he has been my captain, he has been growing as a coach and I think he arrives at a moment with experience. I wish him all the best, I think he is a person who knows Peruvian soccer very well and has experience abroad, that will help him. The desire is great, let's see, it starts tomorrow.
—Do you plan to work for or with Peru, for the FPF?
—That is something I would like and I have already thought about it a lot, it's just that you have to find the right moment and for now it's not.
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Shirts. This is the attire that the guests will wear at the 'Claudio's Party', the official farewell of the 'Bomber'. Photo: composition La República/diffusion
Did you know...
On the radar. Pizarro referred to Matteo Pérez Vinlöf, a Swedish defender with a Peruvian father, who plays for Bayern Munich. “I know his dad, he is Peruvian from Callao, very nice, and in some way he feels Peruvian. I know that he leaves the possibilities open to the Peruvian national team”.