—The fans are eager and expectant to see you. They have many hopes in you...
—I am calm. My thought is to help the team as much as possible. Nothing else.
—Do you notice the expectation around you?
—Yes, I notice it, but I have always been the same. I leave aside things unrelated to the game. The decision to stay on this team was not mine and in the end I stay here. I am happy and looking forward to playing.
—The competition in the attack is going to be tremendous...
—I know there will be a lot. My teammates are all very good. But I am very young and I have to learn from them. And at the same time give everything in training to try to play.
—You couldn't make your debut in an official match due to your heart problems and surgery. You must be anxious to do it...
—Yes, to play at the Calderón and debut in the league. I watched many games as a fan and now I want to experience them as a footballer and be able to contribute things to the team.
—How were those moments when it was decided that you needed heart surgery?
—Very difficult. I was a footballer who wanted to play and I couldn't do it because of those problems. But now I am ready and I think I am having a good preseason.
—You took refuge in religion...
—Yes, it's true. They were very tough months, I was aware of everything that happened and now I am starting to get ahead. I want to repay Atlético for how well they treated me. When they detected the problem, I had to travel to the United States with my agent for surgery. I didn't even tell my mother so she wouldn't worry. When everything went well, I came back to Argentina with the scar on my chest and then, yes. I thanked the Virgin Mary of San Nicolás for everything to go well.
—Tell me...
—I'm from Rosario and San Nicolás is nearby, and the Virgin Mary I am devoted to. My agent, Agustín Jiménez, goes there a lot. I have tattooed the virgin on my left arm (he shows it; in the photo). I did it in Madrid, with Aitor, who has done tattoos for Giménez, Cebolla... Now I would ask my Virgin to help us, the team and me, and to have a great year.
—In order to do that, you will have to have a good season. Who do you think is outstanding?
—Koke. He adapts to all positions and always plays very well.
—Simeone speaks very highly of you.
—It's a pleasure to work under his orders. In Argentina, we are not used to working like this. He is constantly correcting me and teaching me things. I am still young and I like to watch and learn from players like Torres or Raúl García. I pay attention to their movements.
—The coaching staff says you will break many games with your speed and explosiveness...
—I have always liked to dribble the opponent, seek the rival, try one-on-one... And enjoy on the field.
—Any goal numbers in mind?
—No. But I would like them, if I score, to be to help the team and win titles.
—Any special ones?
—Winning the Champions with Atleti would be the best thing that could happen to me.
—This will make the fans happy...
—I really like it. I know how they live the games, their songs. I watched many games from the stands. I went there and enjoyed it. Now it's my turn to do it on the field.