GONZALO VALENCIA @Gonza1504
Claudio Pizarro got a club. He signed with Werder Bremen from Germany and the possibility of being called up to the Peruvian national team with an eye on the 2018 World Cup qualifiers that start in October against Colombia (Barranquilla) and Chile (Lima) is opened.
Getting a club was the implicit condition of coach Ricardo Gareca to call up the 36-year-old national forward. That's why he didn't consider him in the last call-up for Peru's friendly matches against Colombia and the United States. "We hope he finds a team as soon as possible, he's not ruled out and I'm not speaking about assumptions," Gareca said when asked about his exclusion.
After Pizarro's transfer to Bremen was confirmed, the coach of the Peruvian national team assured that "it's good that he keeps his level, that he wants to keep playing football. It was a necessity for him to have a team. We will continue watching him."
In that same sense, Juan Carlos Oblitas, manager of the national team, had referred to Pizarro: "The issue is clear: Claudio (Pizarro) - even without a team - is considering the possibility of continuing to play in a top-level league. His presence will depend on him finding a club. Gareca takes him into account," he said.
PIZARRO ALREADY HAS A CLUB
Today the reality is different. Now, will Pizarro be called up once he plays for Bremen? Not necessarily. Unless he suffers an injury that doesn't allow him to train regularly, Ricardo Gareca's criteria regarding Claudio Pizarro and other possible call-ups indicate that continuity is not a primordial requirement. Instead, the league's hierarchy, the rhythm of competition provided by training, and the player's personal value to be called up are essential. Pizarro fulfills them, he is a leader and a virtual captain in the Peruvian national team.
Pizarro was called up to the Copa America in Chile with only 105 minutes of play in the 30 days prior to the start of the continental tournament. He played in 6 matches: one as a starter, in two others he came off the bench, and in the remaining ones, he didn't play.
The national forward has five matches to play in the Bundesliga before the double date of the World Cup qualifiers - October 8 and 13 - to regain rhythm, add minutes, and enhance his physical condition. However, before the formal request of the players to foreign clubs -15 days prior- there are only three matches left.
Pizarro could get minutes on September 13 against Hoffenheim (away) and a week later he would appear before his home crowd in the match against Ingolstadt for matchday 5 at the Weserstadion. Claudio is short on time, but it may be enough to have chances in October.
09/13/15 Hoffenheim vs. Werder Bremen.
09/19/15 Werder Bremen vs. Ingolstadt.
09/22/15 Darmstadt 98 vs. Werder Bremen.
09/26/15 Werder Bremen vs. Bayer Leverkusen.
10/03/15 Hannover 96 vs. Werder Bremen.
05/23/15 Bayern Munich 2-0 Mainz 05 (substitute: played 17 minutes).
05/16/15 Freiburg 2-1 Bayern Munich (did not play).
05/12/15 Bayern Munich 3-2 Barcelona (did not play).
05/09/15 Bayern Munich 0-1 Augsburg (substitute: played 16 minutes).
05/06/15 Barcelona 3-0 Bayern Munich (did not play).
05/02/15 Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 Bayern Munich (starter: played 72 minutes).
@werderbremen highlighted Claudio Pizarro's history at the club.