Gimenez discusses faith, Milan love, ‘Bebote’ nickname and World Cup dream | OneFootball

Santiago Gimenez’s arrival at AC Milan represents the start of a new era for many, and the Rossoneri fan has perhaps added more reason today.

It has been a difficult few mercatos for Milan. Whilst quality has been added here and there, it is rare that the club has felt like an ‘aggressor’ so to speak. Instead, the Rossoneri have often been a target for clubs and fans have worried about the stars.

In this mercato, it was different though. Instead of worrying about stars, there were attempts to add new ones, whilst information about interest in current talents remained just information.

As a result, things have been much more positive around the club, and a genuine excitement about the future has returned, and Gimenez’s arrival arguably is the main reason why.

A striker that Milan have been crying out for came through the doors, and given he himself is a Milanisti, there is a connection waiting to grow.

Today, the Mexican spoke to Milan TV about his move, life and much more on the ‘Face-Off’ series, and Milan News have relayed his words.

On his childhood…

“Argentina is a country I love, where my whole family lives, where I spent the first four years of my life. Then my father, who was a footballer, had to move to Mexico for work and so I went with him to Mexico as a child. And I spent my whole childhood there.

“Without a doubt, Argentina is a country where I feel at home, just like Mexico. If I had to choose, obviously, I feel more Mexican simply because I lived my whole life in Mexico, but I also carry Argentina in my heart.”

More Stories about Santiago Gimenez

Gimenez discusses faith, Milan love, ‘Bebote’ nickname and World Cup dream

7 February 2025, 19:30

Tuttosport: Conceicao has ‘fantastic four’ in mind but balance remains imperative

7 February 2025, 14:05

GdS: The ‘super duo’ – how Milan are planning for a future with Gimenez and Joao Felix

7 February 2025, 10:19

On his career…

“I’ve always been a big football fan since I was a kid and I’ve always loved watching it. I grew up in an era where Serie A was the best league, and that made me follow Serie A.”

On Milan…

“Is it true that it has always been my dream? Everything went exactly as I wanted.”

On arriving at Milan…

“Since I was a child I have always followed Milan, it is one of the teams I was in love with when I was little. I saw Kakà, Beckham, Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Pirlo, Gattuso play… Practically all that group of players who enchanted the world. And since I was a child it has always been my dream.

“When they called me I said to myself: wow I have this opportunity and I don’t want to let it slip away.”

On the photo as a child with the Milan shirt and the one with Kakà…

“It’s one of the many photos I have as a child with the Milan shirt. I also met Kakà, who is a role model for me, not only for football but also because we share the same faith. And he always motivated me, he talked to me about faith and he always inspired me.

“From that moment I understood that Milan was the right destination for me.”

On what scoring goals means to him…

“It has a meaning that goes beyond football. Maybe someone might say that I insist too much on faith, but thanking God on my knees in front of the entire stadium and in front of millions of cameras is the best way to give him glory and also to be an example of how with God everything is possible.

“For a striker, then, scoring is everything. Strikers live for goals and the only way to give that happiness back to the fans, to reciprocate the joy they give you, is to score lots of goals and make them celebrate many times.”

On being the first Mexican at Milan…

“It’s an honour. Just being here at Milan, regardless of nationality, is an honour and I want to represent these colours as best I can.”

On next year’s World Cup in Mexico…

“For me, there is no greater pride than representing the national team, your country, so playing a World Cup at home is a privilege. But in the end, every player grows playing for his own club.

“So now I’m thinking about giving everything at Milan to arrive in great shape at the World Cup, but also to bring a lot of joy here.”

On his connection with Italy…

“My great-grandfather was born here in Italy, he is Italian and thanks to him I was able to get an Italian passport. Also for this reason I am a little ashamed of not knowing Italian, but I will take lessons and I will learn quickly.

“For now, I understand it a little because it is similar to Spanish, now I will take lessons to speak it.”

On faith…

“For me it’s everything. At a time when I couldn’t find my way, I met Jesus Christ and he showed me my way. This is very important to me. I believe that with God everything is possible.

“I started this journey when I had a thrombosis in my arm, and the doctors told me that I had to stop playing football, it was at that moment that I met Christ and he performed the miracle, so I went back to playing.”

On the number 7…

“29 is the number I made my debut with and I also had it at Feyenoord. 29 is special, but also the 11 I wear for the national team.

“There was a free 7, I tried to find a meaning for it and there is a very important one: it is the perfect number in the Bible.”

On his happiness…

“When I’m with my family I think it’s the moment of greatest happiness because I’m a family man and it gives me so much love and happiness, as well as the moments I spend alone with God. Those are the happiest moments.”

On family…

“Would I like to have a child? Yes, very much. We’re waiting a bit because we want to travel a bit more, enjoy life a bit and then take on this responsibility.”

On pressure…

“At this level, you play under a lot of pressure because of the passion of the fans. Depending on how the team is doing, the fans have a good or bad week and that’s where the pressure comes from. I think you manage the pressure by giving it your all on the pitch.

Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images

“Leaving the pitch and saying you gave your all. In football you win and you lose, but if you leave the pitch knowing you gave it your all you can stay calm and manage the pressure.”

On the fans in Italy…

“I had the chance to play against Lazio and Roma and the atmosphere is very intense, but the Milan-Inter derby is crazy, it’s incredible. The way they live football and cheer for the whole match is incredible.”

On the best advice I’ve ever received…

“I remember when I was told I had to stop playing, I locked myself in a room and asked my dad why this was happening to me. He said he didn’t know, and that I should ask God. And with that advice, my life changed completely.

“I began my journey with God and faith.”

On the match against Feyenoord in the Champions League…

“There were so many emotions after the draw. I wanted Milan-Feyenoord because, if I had stayed in Holland, I would have still faced the team I dreamed of playing for.

“Now that I’m here it will be wonderful to return to Rotterdam, I am very attached to Feyenoord and I will be able to say goodbye to the team with which I experienced wonderful moments. It will be a special night.”

On the nickname “Bebote”…

“What remains of that child is the passion and joy with which I enter the field. When you’re young, you play without pressure and with a lot of passion, but when you get to the first team you start to think about what the fans will say. And this sometimes prevents you from playing freely.

“I try to play like a child, without pressure, with a lot of passion, freely and having fun. I will never lose this. The nickname? It comes from my family. My parents, and my whole family called me ‘Bebote’ when I was little because I was big for my age.

“I was bigger than my teammates, that’s why they called me ‘Bebote’. In the end, a friend of my father, who worked on TV, Tito Villa, knew that they called me that and once while he was commentating on a match when I scored a goal he said that Bebote had scored. And from that moment on, everyone called me that.”