Maximiliano Lopez, called Maxi by most people, is enjoying his life in Italy.
He has not had an easy life.
From a very young age he had to work in order to pay his family’s bills and football was his only way out.
He has always been the biggest and strongest in the youth divisions, and many doubted he would be a success, once the rest of the kids his age caught up with him.
He proved them all wrong.
Won many titles with River Plate’s youth teams, top the goalscoring table almost at every division too.
Once he made it to the first team, he took his chances and made it difficult for his managers not to play him.
At the age on 21 he moved to non other than Barcelona, where he alternated good periods and not so good ones.
He went on a round the world crusade in order to play games (Mallorca, FK Moscow, Gremio de Porto Alegre, Catania and today on loan at AC Milan)
Not a bad career for someone who according to many was not going to make it!
ML: haha, I know. I believed in myself and kept working hard. I was not going to let those saying that I only scored goals as a kid because I was much taller and stronger than others of my age.
Did you have anyone that you looked up to when growing up in football terms?
ML: in River Plate and at the time I was there, I always wanted to be like Crespo. He was my idol. No matter who he played for or against, he always scored goals. That is what I wanted to do.
Then at only 21 Barcelona came in and…
ML: I could not believe it. People always said that in River I had to fill Saviola’s shoes. But our styles were very different, so I kept saying that I did not have to play like him, even if we both wore number 7. Then from River to Barcelona (like Saviola) and it was a funny coincidence.
I don’t think I was too young. Because of the way my personal life had gone, I had to mature quickly and work to provide for my family. I had no choice.
Was your time at Barcelona a failure?
ML: No, the opposite. We all want to play, but I knew I had to work hard. I played very few games, there were other top class strikers at the prime of their careers there and I knew I would have only 20 minutes here and there.
My aim was to keep improving, show myself that I could make it in Europe too.
The Barcelona fans really liked you, though…
ML: yes, when I arrived they wanted to know everything. My nickname in Argentina was “the German”, because of my blond hair, but they did not like it. They started calling me “the white Drogba”, which was an honour but also an exaggeration.
Then one season in Moscow and then back to South America for Gremio in Brazil…
Impossible to find two more different countries, cultures, climate and passion.
Playing in Porto was like finding myself at home again. It was a loan from FK and did not want to go back to Russia.
Luckily Catania came in and took me to Italy.
Well, saying that Catania is in Italy, while the city may be, the squad certainly has a huge South American feel.
ML- Yes and the fans are very similar to ours as well. I have felt at home from day one. I played my best football there and that opened the doors to get to another of football giants like AC Milan.
Why do you think that Argentinean players are emigrating to Europe younger and younger?
ML- There are different factors, I think. From the buying clubs perspective, they know they are buying talented players that will enhance their squads.
From the players point of view, there is the opportunity to make a name for themselves and progress professionally and as a person.
Will you still be an AC Milan player next season?
ML- the loan ends at the end of this tournament. They have always been honest with me, and told me I came as a back up. But they also said that it would be up to me to show them that I can be a Milan player and stay here.
I am enjoying the club, the life and even at my age (28) still learning from the great players in this squad.
So I know that even if I go back to Catania, I will go back a much improved player.
Where did all the hair go?
ML- I did not want to get it cut, but my wife convinced me to do it. She kept at me for a very long time, so in the end I did it. Ha Ha.
He has not had an easy life.
From a very young age he had to work in order to pay his family’s bills and football was his only way out.
He has always been the biggest and strongest in the youth divisions, and many doubted he would be a success, once the rest of the kids his age caught up with him.
He proved them all wrong.
Won many titles with River Plate’s youth teams, top the goalscoring table almost at every division too.
Once he made it to the first team, he took his chances and made it difficult for his managers not to play him.
At the age on 21 he moved to non other than Barcelona, where he alternated good periods and not so good ones.
He went on a round the world crusade in order to play games (Mallorca, FK Moscow, Gremio de Porto Alegre, Catania and today on loan at AC Milan)
Not a bad career for someone who according to many was not going to make it!
ML: haha, I know. I believed in myself and kept working hard. I was not going to let those saying that I only scored goals as a kid because I was much taller and stronger than others of my age.
Did you have anyone that you looked up to when growing up in football terms?
ML: in River Plate and at the time I was there, I always wanted to be like Crespo. He was my idol. No matter who he played for or against, he always scored goals. That is what I wanted to do.
Then at only 21 Barcelona came in and…
ML: I could not believe it. People always said that in River I had to fill Saviola’s shoes. But our styles were very different, so I kept saying that I did not have to play like him, even if we both wore number 7. Then from River to Barcelona (like Saviola) and it was a funny coincidence.
I don’t think I was too young. Because of the way my personal life had gone, I had to mature quickly and work to provide for my family. I had no choice.
Was your time at Barcelona a failure?
ML: No, the opposite. We all want to play, but I knew I had to work hard. I played very few games, there were other top class strikers at the prime of their careers there and I knew I would have only 20 minutes here and there.
My aim was to keep improving, show myself that I could make it in Europe too.
The Barcelona fans really liked you, though…
ML: yes, when I arrived they wanted to know everything. My nickname in Argentina was “the German”, because of my blond hair, but they did not like it. They started calling me “the white Drogba”, which was an honour but also an exaggeration.
Then one season in Moscow and then back to South America for Gremio in Brazil…
Impossible to find two more different countries, cultures, climate and passion.
Playing in Porto was like finding myself at home again. It was a loan from FK and did not want to go back to Russia.
Luckily Catania came in and took me to Italy.
Well, saying that Catania is in Italy, while the city may be, the squad certainly has a huge South American feel.
ML- Yes and the fans are very similar to ours as well. I have felt at home from day one. I played my best football there and that opened the doors to get to another of football giants like AC Milan.
Why do you think that Argentinean players are emigrating to Europe younger and younger?
ML- There are different factors, I think. From the buying clubs perspective, they know they are buying talented players that will enhance their squads.
From the players point of view, there is the opportunity to make a name for themselves and progress professionally and as a person.
Will you still be an AC Milan player next season?
ML- the loan ends at the end of this tournament. They have always been honest with me, and told me I came as a back up. But they also said that it would be up to me to show them that I can be a Milan player and stay here.
I am enjoying the club, the life and even at my age (28) still learning from the great players in this squad.
So I know that even if I go back to Catania, I will go back a much improved player.
Where did all the hair go?
ML- I did not want to get it cut, but my wife convinced me to do it. She kept at me for a very long time, so in the end I did it. Ha Ha.