His resemblance to Lionel Messi is merely physical . Although quality has led the striker to be part of the Serie A, La Liga and now in English Champions with Watford. Fernando Forestieri has been tagged as the ‘new’ Messi by the physical similarity he has with Barcelona’s Argentinian star.
Forestieri currently plays for Watford, a team fighting for the promotion to the top flight football. His contribution served discretely to Watford’s chances of making it to the Premier league this season as they sit 3rd in the table, with just a point separating them from second placed Hull City.
Although he was born in Argentina, Forestieri moved to Italy at a very beginning stage of his career and since represented them in the U-17,19,21. The 23-year old Watford striker made his senior debut with Genoa back in 2006. However, his stay there was short lived as he moved out to play for Siena and Vicenza on loan spells and secured a permanent move to Udinese at the summer of 09, which again proved to be a mud in the water.
And after 3 years and 4 different loan spells, Forestieri finally secured a move to Watford after some impressive performances in the Championships. Although the “New Messi” tag arrived in the European newspapers when he was on loan at Malaga, he returned to Italy unnoticed and may be a promotion to Premier league with Watford this season could bring him to lime light.
Talking to the Footballers’ Football Column, Forestieri gave an insight to his life at England along with former Arsenal keeper Manuel Almunia.
I have played for 10 clubs in my career, often on loan. At Watford I have signed a five-year contract. It is not the same being on loan as being on a team for who you have signed five years. I am thinking long term. I am very committed with Watford. It’s more attractive being at a club permanently. That’s why I signed the long-term deal.
I’m lucky because I came to a club with a lot of Italian and Spanish speakers. There is Manuel but also Marco Cassetti, Gianfranco Zola, for example. It helps using the same language and having the same kind of thinking. It’s been easier for me to adapt to the country. I am also taking English lessons and improving as each week goes by.
Talking about his physical similarity with Leo Messi, he said:
I have been told I look like Messi. Some people do confuse me for him, mainly fans back home in Rosario. They come up to me shouting, ‘Messi, Messi’.
I believe I have a similar style to him. I am not afraid to be compared to anyone. He is an example, not only as a player but as a person. He is as good as a player as he is as a person. He is a very simple guy and very accessible.
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