Zuculini between Udinese and Atalanta-Udinese other Franco Zuculini nasce a La Rioja (Argentina) il 5 settembre 1990: come tanti ragazzini, Franquito nasce con il "futbol" nel sangue e dunque sin dall'infanzia inizia a calcare i campi da calcio assieme a suo fratello Bruno, di due anni più giovane. Trasferitosi ad Escobar, città nel gruppo metropolitano di Buenos Aires, entra a far parte dell'Independiente, squadra neroverde solo omonima della famosa Roja: un bello scherzo del destino per chi, di lì a breve, avrebbe avuto il Racing Club, cugini e rivali storici dei titolati "Diablos", nel suo futuro.
Ancora giovanissimo infatti, nel 2000, Zucu entra a far parte dell'Academia: inizia allora quell'usanza, quasi d'altri tempi, che ancora oggi dopo esser diventato una delle stelline più appetite del panorama mondiale, mantiente. "Mi sveglio alle 5.30, perché Escobar dista molto da Avellaneda – racconta Franquito in una delle poche interviste concesse ai media argentini – Mio padre accompagna me e Bruno agli allenamenti in macchina: io, durante il tragitto di due ore, cerco di recuperare il sonno perso".
Carattere forte e determinato, ma anche un ragazzo semplice che ancora gioca a calcio con gli amici del suo quartiere e prende la metropolitana ("fino alla fermata Plaza Italia") ed il tram ("il numero 60") per tornare a casa la sera: Zuculini è già diventato il beniamino indiscusso del "Cilindro", dove i tifosi intonano cori for him at every game since April 13, 2008, on his debut in the match against Arsenal of Sarandi.
Since that day in practice, his coach, Juan Manuel "El Chocho" Llop, has not taken off more as a team, giving him the keys to her 4-4-2 focused on young people: 25 appearances in the last days of the Clausura '08 and opening that in recent weeks is ending and that sees the Racing Club to achieve a beautiful and unexpected safety zone "Descenso.
174 cm to 69 kg, Zuculini is a steering wheel, the typical role that the Argentine soccer is excelling in recent years churning out players like Mascherano, Gago and Banega, very technically gifted, as evidenced by his only extraordinary career goals with the shirt of Racing (against Rosario Central), prefer the right foot and has an excellent vision of the game.
The physicist is certainly "leggerino" but certainly do not lack the temperament to Zucu, struggling with muscle from the median for every ball: fast and fancy, might be an interesting prospect in key tactics in European football, as it could a variety of roles such as the midfielder in a midfield diamond side, or simply, as now, the second of a central midfield of a line to 4, accompanied by a median.
Someone compared him to Mascherano: "It 'an idol, I want to be like him," said Zucu, but compared to Jefecito appears to be less defensive attitude. In addition to the Liverpool midfielder, his models were always the center forward, curious thing, and that shows its fatal attraction with offensive play: "As a child I wanted to be Batistuta and score many goals as him. Then it was the turn of Adrian" El Polaco "Bastia (former teammate, now in Greece), who taught me so much, especially in terms of determination and sacrifice," he said.
It must have learned so much courage and determination in judging by his trademark: it is called the "Cabezon" and it is a tackle on the ball ... with his head, a dive bomber low shot that leaves opponents confused. "Who is Boba, who has the Viva, I the Cabezon, "he joked Franqui, after the controversy occurred in the match against River for yellow remedied with the captain of Milo, Tuzio:" My teammates say I'm crazy, but I do it for years. "
On the table of the President Héctor García Cuervo, rained requests, since the tournament Sudamericano Sub17 and the category of the World 2007, when Zuculini had not yet started to "pro": difficult to make a list of candidates for the purchase of the actual number 36, given that the sports directors from all over Europe, starting with those of Juventus, AC Milan, Udinese, Napoli and Rome and finally to the top clubs in England and Spain, are vigilant about the situation.
Zuculini brakes but enthusiasm: "Today is the Racing and I think just to do well here: Racing is my life, I would like to stay here for another three to four years to try and win something." In fact, the group is young and albiceleste quotatissimo: an interesting Shaffer, quarterback already on the list for the Seleccion Diego Maradona, a "morality" Maxi Moralez, Genius of the National sub20, to finish Gabriel Mercado and Claudio Yacob, even their national youth.
certainly have to consider the economic situation of the club for years now controlled by management companies that are always fails: monetize the explosion of early gems will probably be the best move even to try to establish a healthy society, so it will sleep soundly for the fans of the cylinder.
The starting price is set at: $ 10 million, a price that will surely start to cut out a slice and benefits of participating teams in La Liga, just as demonstrated with various Gago, Higuain, Plates and Banega. But the big Serie A must risk because Zuculini (holding an Italian passport for its origins) is likely to be soon one of the top 3 of the World in its role, dropping too many crowned heads in the National Maradona: in January will part of the expedition in Venezuela Seleccion sub20 Sergio Batista who aims at the South American World Cup qualifiers. A trampoline
and the last edition highlighted talents such as Alexandre Pato, Lucas Pezzini Leiva, Edison Cavani, Alexis Sanchez and Ever Banega: then wait another two months, it might be too late ... Eventually, for consolation, there is always Bruno Zuculini: 16 years, plays the same position nell'Octava of Racing and to hear his older brother, it promises to be "stronger physically and technically." Good blood does not lie.
(udineseblog)
