Sebastian’s Argie-bargy over Old Firm switch
Warriors star changes allegiance due to friendship with Bernabei
THERE’S no doubt that football is very much the second sport at Scotstoun. That became clear towards the end of last season during Rangers’ run to the Europa League final.
Several Glasgow Warriors players were pictured at Ibrox for the semi-final victory over RB Leipzig in May. Chief among them were Ryan Wilson, Ali Price, Duncan Weir and Cole Forbes.
Sebastian Cancelliere was also part of the Warriors contingent, although the Argentina winger was equally keen to explore the other side of the Glasgow football rivalry. All the more so when Celtic signed his fellow Argentinian Alexandro Bernabei in the summer.
Cancelliere has now revealed that the pair have struck up a good friendship.
The Warriors star was invited along to Celtic Park for the Champions League game against Real Madrid a few weeks ago — and it was an experience he’ll never forget.
‘I know him (Bernabei) and we’ve got together a few times,’ said Cancelliere. ‘We found out that there was an Argie at Celtic and we sent him a message. ‘We’re friends of Berna, as we call him. He’s a good guy. We already went to watch Celtic when they played against Real Madrid. ‘Everyone else here at the club seems to be a Rangers fan. So last year, we went to the Rangers game in the Europa League semi-final against RB Leipzig at Ibrox and they won. ‘But now Bernabei is playing at Celtic, I have the Celtic jersey on! The Madrid game was good fun and hopefully he will now come to some of our games here. He wants to do that.’
Asked what his Rangerssupporting team-mates made of him switching allegiance, Cancelliere joked: ‘Yeah, they don’t like it that I am now a Celtic fan. Especially Duncan Weir. But my heart is now green and white.
‘Back home, I support River Plate and I’ve been to the derbies against Boca at the Monumental Stadium. That’s a massive game.
‘But I would have to say the atmosphere at Celtic against Real Madrid was amazing as well. Both of the stadiums are really good.
‘It was a great spectacle to watch. Hopefully, one day, we can reach the same atmosphere for games here at Glasgow.’
With ten caps under his belt, Cancelliere will be hoping to get a run of form under his belt with Glasgow that can see him break back into the Pumas squad.
Argentina are set to play Scotland at Murrayfield in the autumn Test series, a fixture that he would dearly love to be part of.
‘Of course that’s always an aim to play for my country,’ said the 29-year-old. ‘It’s a massive honour. It’s what all players want.
‘So that’s my aim — to get back in the Argentina squad ahead of the World Cup. To do that, I know I have to do my job here and do it well because there is massive competition in Argentina in the back three.
‘I have to focus here and do great. There’s massive competition here too.
‘I had a few conversations with Michael (Cheika, Argentina head coach). I know that they’re following every player here in Europe. So I know what I have to do. There are a lot of Argies here in Scotland and hopefully that means they will watch our games.’ Warriors will continue their season with a trip to face Ospreys in the United Rugby Championship tomorrow night. Franco Smith’s side will be looking to continue the momentum built by a crushing 52-24 victory over Cardiff at Scotstoun last week. ‘Last week set the standard for us,’ said Cancelliere. ‘It’s a challenge (to maintain it) and we want to accept that challenge. ‘The next one for us is to win away in this competition. If you want to be a top team as we do then you have to win away. Hopefully, this weekend, we are going to go for it. ‘We have a new coach and are getting adapted to him. We want to be a much fitter team than we were last year. ‘We are getting used to what Franco wants and understanding the way he wants to play. He knows too that we want to play fast. ‘So it’s a great mix. We’re building things step by step. Hopefully we will have a great season.’
Everyone else at the club seems to be a Rangers fan