Is Gonzalo Gerardo Higuaín of basque heritage?

Bajen · 01 Aug 2006, 05:56 AM

I've read that Athetic Bilbao is interested in Argentinian Gonzalo Gerardo Higuaín. Bearing in mind that Athletic only cares for Basque players, does anyone know if this Argentinian is of basque heritage?

Illrod3 · 01 Aug 2006, 10:36 AM

I dont' think he is of Basque heritage, he was born in France though, do they contract players born in Basque land??

Bajen · 01 Aug 2006, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Illrod3

I dont' think he is of Basque heritage, he was born in France though, do they contract players born in Basque land??

Ok, well, the area of Pays Basque is actually streching over the spanish border to France. So a small part of southwest France, close to Spain, is Basque. French players Bixente Lizarazu and Didier Descamps are both born in that area. Lizarazu has played for Athletic Bilbao cause he is Basque.

I don't think u have to be born in the Basque area to play for Athletic, but I think the club wants to know that the certain player is of basque heritage.

Do u know where in France Higuaín is born? Maybe he is Basque after all.

Illrod3 · 01 Aug 2006, 01:19 PM

What I mean to say is that I don't think his family is of basque descent (but I might be wrong). I don't know where in France he was born but only that he was born there while his dad played in France. So maybe they are looking at him since if he was born in a Basque region of France he would be ok to play for them, anyways I don't think he identifies himself with basque cultural heritange or french heritage for that matter. At least I haven't heard or read anything about it.

Bajen · 01 Aug 2006, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Illrod3

What I mean to say is that I don't think his family is of basque descent (but I might be wrong). I don't know where in France he was born but only that he was born there while his dad played in France. So maybe they are looking at him since if he was born in a Basque region of France he would be ok to play for them, anyways I don't think he identifies himself with basque cultural heritange or french heritage for that matter. At least I haven't heard or read anything about it.

It seems to me, after some research, that he is like you say half Argentinian and half French but that he has got some basque roots from somewhere. It all points to that he is born in the basque area of France (Iparralde seems to be the basque name of the northern French part of Spain)

Quote from spanish site: "Parece ser que el jugador nació en Iparralde, País Vasco-Francés." I think "nació" means "born" (??) and jugador = youngster (??) Is there any spanish people here to confirm this?

The site also says: "Gonzalo Gerardo Higuaín, un argentino con raices vascas que habla euskera perfectamente." which I'm almost sure about means: "An Argentinian with Basque roots, who speeks perfect Euskera."

Even if my spanish is very bad I do understand that there is something linking this guy to the Basque part of France as "vascas" is the Basque name for the their territory and "euskera" is the name of the Basque language.

Illrod3 · 01 Aug 2006, 09:24 PM

I guess I was wrong then he was born in Basque country, comes from a Basque family, and speaks their language which means a strong cultural connection. I thought he left France too early on in life to strongly identify himself with Basque culture.

Jugador means player, you were right on the other translations.

Illrod3 · 04 Aug 2006, 10:43 AM

I did some more research since I continue to hear conflicting stories and found he was born in Brest, France, which is Brittany not Euskal Herria (basque land). He has dual citizenship and can play for either Arg. or France since he hasn't play for either team yet. His father's family is from Iparralde and he is of basque descend. His uncle Nicolas founded Eusketxe, a basque cultural house in Buenos Aires, so he does speaks the language and carries on basque traditions. However, his possible signining with Athletic is causing some controversy as the actual philosophy is to sign players born in Euskal Herria or who developed futbolistacally in Euskal Herria. Higuain was not born in basque land and he learn to play futbol in Argentina, but some people say that since he is of basque heritage and feels the basque culture it would be ok to sign him.

Bajen · 05 Aug 2006, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Illrod3

I did some more research since I continue to hear conflicting stories and found he was born in Brest, France, which is Brittany not Euskal Herria (basque land). He has dual citizenship and can play for either Arg. or France since he hasn't play for either team yet. His father's family is from Iparralde and he is of basque descend. His uncle Nicolas founded Eusketxe, a basque cultural house in Buenos Aires, so he does speaks the language and carries on basque traditions. However, his possible signining with Athletic is causing some controversy as the actual philosophy is to sign players born in Euskal Herria or who developed futbolistacally in Euskal Herria. Higuain was not born in basque land and he learn to play futbol in Argentina, but some people say that since he is of basque heritage and feels the basque culture it would be ok to sign him.

Then we finally got to know his background. I had some troubles understanding the sites in Spanish where they wrote about him so that's cool that you found this info.

I'm trying to keep up with the news regarding Athletic Bilbao as I'm impressed by their struggle to maintain in the Primera Division every season. The team has played in the top division ever since the Spanish league started, always with the ambition to keep the squad intact with only basque players which is to me quite amazing!

Illrod3 · 07 Aug 2006, 04:04 PM

By the way, Higuain scored once and created the second goal (it was an own goal) in yesterday's seasonal debut for River. It is looking like he is going to have a bright future. Athletic should get him but only after a couple of years when he had a chance to win big with River.