Barcelona certainly has a lot invested in Saviola. The team paid the Buenos Aires club River Plate $22 million for his services–an Argentine transfer record. Though he is a slight 1.68 meters tall and weighs only 68 kilograms, his pace and sublime ball skills mark him as one of Argentina’s leading players. He grew up in a middle-class Buenos Aires neighborhood, where he began playing football at the age of 6. Before long, he was competing against kids bigger and older, who laughed at his small stature–until he beat them. At 16, he made his league debut for River and demonstrated a remarkable immunity to pressure when he came on as a substitute to score, earning his side a draw. Shortly after signing for Barcelona he helped win the World Under-20 tournament for Argentina, knocking in a record 11 goals. For Carlos Bilardo, the coach who led Argentina to World Cup victory in 1986, the price may be justified: “He’s a player who can make a real impression, and there are not many of those.”
Even so, Saviola’s Barcelona start has hit some bumps. For one thing, he disappointed the team during one of his early matches by refusing an injection of pain medication that would have allowed him to play through a foot injury, citing concern over his long-term health. And though the team has been playing poorly, coach Carles Rexach has rested his young star for most away matches, apparently to give him time to adapt. Then, in August, Saviola was shaken by the death of his father after a lengthy illness. Some critics contend that whatever his talents, he moved abroad too young. “This sort of sudden leap in a player’s career is rarely best,” says Victor Hugo Morales, a leading local sports commentator, who believes Saviola has a long way to go before he takes on the central role he had at River. “He’s so young and his baby face made it possible to market him and generate increased interest. Barcelona’s problems mean that they are hungry for a savior.”
Saviola has already shown a willingness to take on that role. Ten days after his father’s death, he was scoring again, lifting his shirt to reveal a T shirt with the message FOR YOU, DAD. Although he has spent a lot of time on the bench, he is still Barcelona’s top scorer, more than maintaining his career record of a goal every two games. His agent, Alfredo Cabrera Brizuela, finds his ability to keep his cool even more impressive than his footballing skills. “When you are at the top it’s difficult not to get dizzy,” he says, “especially when you are only 20. It’s not about age, but character.” The club has helped keep him grounded by bringing his mother out to live with him, along with one of her Spanish uncles. (Saviola has roots in Spain; his maternal grandparents emigrated to Argentina from the poor province of Extremadura).
Saviola is too focused on the game to get caught up in all the fanfare. Already he has his mind set on making the Argentine national team for next June’s World Cup in Japan and Korea. (Argentine coach Marcelo Bielsa has hinted he is likely to be included in the 23-player squad.) Even Morales believes that if Saviola maintains his form for Barcelona, he should be picked and that the experience could see him blossom. It is still too early to say whether he will fulfill Barcelona’s inflated dreams. But football fans everywhere will no doubt enjoy watching him try.
