JAVIER SAVIOLA
 

WORLD SOCCER: You're not yet 20, and you're already a superstar. It's all happened a bit quickly, hasn't it?

JAVIER SAVIOLA: Sometimes even I think that. I made my debut (for River Plate) at 18, scoring in my first game. Shortly before, I'd been playing in the Third Division. It was quite a dramatic debut. Castillo was injured, and coach Ramon Diaz told me to play. River Plate were one goal down against Gimnasia, and I equalised near the end of the game.
 

The match was on a Sunday. On the Friday morning before, Delem, my reserve team coach, came by and told me I was to go and train with the first team. When I first entered their dressing-room, I was sweating cobs; there was my name on the blackboard, in among the names of those who'd been called up for the away game against (Gimnasia) Jujuy.

When I got back home, my folks were already worried, because it had got so late and they hadn't known where I was. They started to cry when I told them what had happened. It was all very emotional.

What did it feel like to play in a River shirt at that age?
It was a sense of joy that's hard to explain. You've achieved your whole aim in life, to play in the shirt of your favourite team. It's the team that's closest to my heart - I was born in the Belgrano area, near the Monumental stadium. Then when I finished school I went on to the River Institute, before abandoning my studies to concentrate on my game. I played for River from the age of eight, when I was in their youth side, and before that with the juniors in the Club Ateneo Colegiales.

You also scored in your second game for River's first team.
Yes, and that's when I knew things were going to be OK.

Things have been a little better than just OK.
Well, I don't know! Maybe. I think the reason things have gone so well for me is because I scored on my debut. That gave me the feeling that it's possible to win all the time.

Then came a call from Jose Peckerman, the Under-23 coach.
Yes, I was called up to the Under-23s without having played for the Under-21s. It was around Christmas 1999, and the Under-23s were to play in the pre-Olympic tournament in Brazil - we were called up for four friendly games.

Two years ago, Inter came to take a look at you.
Yes, Antonio Angelillo came along but nothing came of it because I was too young at that point, and I knew that I needed to develop here, at home, at River. I wanted to stay here at least another three years.

What differences have you spotted between Argentinian football and European?
I always watch the Spanish and Italian League games on television and I'm a fan of Valencia because of my friend Aimar. In Spain they play faster and there's more space, particularly in midfield. Here in Argentina, the marking is tighter and the game much more constricted. Italian football is more like the Argentinian game but more tactical. And you only score if you are physically fit and a brave player.

Barcelona and Milan seem to be the two sides keenest to sign you.
I know about Barca'sinterest, but as for Milan - it's only what I've read in the papers.

Which of the two would you prefer?
There are a lot of Argentinian players in Spain, in Italy too, and in terms of fitting in I can't see a great deal of difference. I'm slowly starting to think in terms of Barca - I can picture myself in front of 100,000 people at Camp Nou. But I must stress that I haven't signed anything.

What has been the most satisfying moment of your career so far?
Winning the title with River, and my national team debut. The fact that older players have treated me like one of them, right from the start - I couldn't believe it. Going on to the pitch, in that shirt!

What does football mean to you?
I was talking about this recently with Aimar. We came to the conclusion that we wanted most of all to win - but only if we were enjoying the match. So it's the enjoyment, the fans urging you on, cheering you, that's football - for me at least.

Your game is similar to Aimar's.
No, no - he's more expert than I am. In the River team that won the championship, he was the best, he's incredibly fast on the ball.

Which players are you most impressed by?
Raul, Figo, Rivaldo, Kluivert, Francescoli, Sheva (Shevchenko).

And who is your idol?
Ortega. When I was in the youth team I used to go and watch the first team train to see how Ariel managed the ball. At my debut, he was on the field. To debut withyour idol nearby - that's not bad.

Not Maradona?
It's different�he's beyond being an idol. No one could ever achieve what he has.

It has been said that he hasn't viewed your possible move to Barcelona in a good light.
It only matters what I think.

What position do you most like to play in?
I'm very young, so I don't have a lot of experience, but I liked playing with Aimar and Pablo Angel because we'd swap positions all the time. I'd start off in midfield, make up the numbers in attack, and I'd have lots of space. Ramon Diaz used to advise me to seek out my own place, to go where my instinct took me.

Away from the game, have you any pastimes?
I love music - Andre Calamaro, an Argentinian, but above all the music of Freddie Mercury.

It's said that you still go around in a Peugeot 206.
So what? That's a good car for a 20-year-old.

Many players of your age let fame go to their head. Do you think that might happen to you?
I haven't changed - I've still got the same outlook that I had in the youth team, and I know that I won't change. I've got plenty of stability in my life to keep me secure.