Santiago Garcia had a big surprise last week. ‘Santi' agreed to meet in the players lounge in the VIP area of Weser Stadium for an interview with the pay-TV station Sky. What he didn't know was that Sky had set up a Skype...
Santiago Garcia had a big surprise last week. ‘Santi' agreed to meet in the players lounge in the VIP area of Weser Stadium for an interview with the pay-TV station Sky. What he didn't know was that Sky had set up a Skype...
Santiago Garcia had a big surprise last week. ‘Santi' agreed to meet in the players lounge in the VIP area of Weser Stadium for an interview with the pay-TV station Sky. What he didn't know was that Sky had set up a Skype chat with his twin brother Manuel in Argentina. "That was great, I didn't expect it at all," said the Werder left back after the video chat with his brother.
The pay-TV station's idea was not really a coincidence. Garcia is known as a family man. Despite the long distance and five hours time difference between Bremen and Rosario, Garcia talks regularly with his family back home in Argentina. "I usually talk to my father in the morning really quick and then in the evening a bit longer with my brother. We really take a lot of time and talk about training sessions and give each other tips," said Santiago. Tips from a defender to a goalkeeper as Manuel is keeper for Atlético Rosario in the Argentinean first division.
Twins, friends, important dialog partner
But football isn't the only thing connecting Santiago and Manuel. "We always used to do everything together and we were always together. That's why I'm still really close to him now and really miss him a lot," said Garcia about the relationship with his brother, who is 25 minutes older. But the familiarisation phase in Bremen and at SV Werder went pretty well for the Argentinean, even without family. "I got used to things here quickly. I also had a great time in Italy. But you cannot compare Bremen and Palermo. I was directly on the beach but I could never go out to eat in peace because the fans there are so fanatic. That is not my thing. I like the peace and quiet here better," said Garcia.
Grass widower Santiago has a plan
The 25-year-old has company in Bremen from his girlfriend Carla, who has accompanied him to Germany. But she will soon have to leave. "She will go back to Argentina for the next couple months to study. That will make things tougher for me," said Garcia, who admitted that he already has a plan. "During training and the games, I am fully concentrated on things anyhow. Then I will spend my free time with my buddies Luca and Franco. That's a good distraction."
The best distraction will follow in early December as Santiago Garcia is expecting a visit from the homeland. "I invited them to Bremen and cannot wait. A couple of weeks ago, my mother and aunt were here in Germany. They checked out the country and visited me and we went to Amsterdam together during the national team break. But I am really looking forward to my brother visiting. He couldn't come any sooner because of the season there," said Garcia. That may not be a surprise but Santiago couldn't be any happier about the reunion.
