Stec: “Alvaro, Congratulations! Welcome to FC Cincinnati. I know you just turned 20 years old. You’ve only lived in Argentina and played for one club. Why do you want to the move to the United States and MLS at this point?”
Barreal: “Muchas gracias. La verdad estoy muy contento. Muy ansioso por este lindo desafío que tengo en este club. Estuve investigándolo y la verdad que me voy a un gran club, a un gran lugar, donde voy a tratar de seguir cumpliendo sueños. Y nada, creo que esta liga la viendo siguiendo hace mucho. Es una liga donde me gustaría jugar y, bueno, ahora pude cumplir este sueño de hacer este paso a este gran club.”
“Thank you. To be honest, I am very happy. I am very anxious for this great challenge that I have in this club. I was investigating and the truth is I am going to a great club, a great place, where I will try to continue to achieve my dreams. I think I’ve been following this league for a while now. It is a league where I would like to play, and now I was able to achieve that dream to take this step to a great club.”
Stec: “Do you have any friends in MLS or players that you admire?”
Barreal: “Si tengo. Tengo dos amigos. Uno esta jugando en el Inter de Miami, Matías Pellegrini, y tengo a (Valentin) Taty Castellanos, que esta jugando en New York (City).”
“Yes, I do. I have two friends. One of them is playing at Inter Miami, Matías Pellegrini, and also (Valentin) Taty Castellanos, who is playing in New York (City).”
Stec: “Did you talk to them about joining the league? Did you get their input on what they thought about MLS?”
Barreal: “Si hable. Hable con los dos, y nada, me dijeron que muy lindo. Ellos la están pasando muy bien. Además del futbol, están muy cómodos. Creo que eso a ayudado mucho a que yo tomo esta decisión.”
“Yes, I talked to them. I talked to both of them, and they told me it is quite nice. They’re having a great time. Besides soccer, they are very comfortable. I think that helped me a lot to take this decision.”
Stec: “I watched some film on you. You seem very fast. You like to go at players, attack. What do you think you can bring to FC Cincinnati?”
Barreal: “Eso mismo. Creo que voy a tratar de dar todo. Como dice ella, creo que mi mayor virtud es el ataque. Voy a ir a poder aportar al equipo esa virtud que tengo en el ataque y tratar de ayudar en lo que sea.”
“Exactly that. I will always give it my all. Like she said, I think my biggest virtue is attacking. I will be able to supply my team this virtue that I have when attacking and help the team with whatever is needed.
Stec: “When you’re learning the playing style of FC Cincinnati and what this club wants to accomplish, what do you think you can add to the team?”
Barreal: “Creo que por lo que vi, por los partidos que vi, es un equipo muy sacrificado. Un equipo que ah todo momento ataca y defiende. Hacen un sacrificio muy grande, y creo que puedo yo apórtale también, por lo que vengo viendo. El sacrificio y aportarle lo mío, como dije antes, sea ataque, enfrentamientos, asistencias, goles. Creo que eso lo que voy aportarle al equipo para que al equipo le vaya muy bien.”
“From what I saw, in the few games I watched, I think the team sacrifices themselves a lot. They’re a team that at every moment attacks and defends. They make a big sacrifice, and I think that I can add that to the team as well. Like I said before, I will sacrifice for this club and add my skillset, whether it be attacking, going at players, assisting, scoring goals. I think that is what I can contribute to the team so that the team can do well.”
Stec: “You mentioned assisting and scoring goals. When you look at the long-term plan of your time here, what are some goals that you would like to set for yourself and eventually accomplish?”
Barreal: “Mi objetivo es eso, tratar de hacer la mayor cantidad de goles y asistencias. Creo que soy un jugador que es de las dos. Si tengo que elegir una, no elijo. Puedo aportar de las dos cosas porque me gusta también asistir a mis compañeros. Creo que ese es mi objetivo, poder aportar la mayor cantidad de goles y asistencias.”
“That is my objective, try to assist and score as many goals as possible. I think I am a player that can contribute both ways. If I had to choose one, I wouldn’t. I can contribute both ways because I really enjoy assisting my teammates. I think that is my objective, try to assist and score as many goals as possible.”
Stec: “I’ve noticed that in some of your celebrations you like to play with your hair. I see now how it is platinum blonde. Is that your signature thing? What is the story?”
Barreal: “La historia aparece por mi hermano. Mi hermano salió con ese festejo de tocarse la cabeza por mi papa, porque es pelado. Ahí empezó la historia. Los goles que yo hago trato de festejarlos así igual. No es que es mi único festejo, pero últimamente mis goles los festejo así.”
“The story starts with my brother. My brother came out with the celebration of touching your head because my dad is bald. That’s is how it got started. The goals I score I try to celebrate the same way. It is not my only celebration, but recently I have done it when I score.”
Stec: “What is something our supporters would like to know about you?”
Barreal: “Que tengo muchas ganas. Que estuve viendo, y la verdad es que son mucho los fanáticos que siguen a Cincinnati, y creo lo que lo que mas pueden esperar es que voy a ir a dejar todo con muchas ganas. En cada partido que me toque jugar voy a tratar de dejar todo por el Cincinnati.”
“That I am excited. I was watching, and truth be told, there is a lot of fans that follow Cincinnati. I think they can expect to see me give it my all on the pitch. Every game that I get to play, I will leave it all on the pitch for Cincinnati.”
