He was priority number one for Ruud van Nistelrooij. But not only the trainer is happy with his arrival, Walter Benítez himself is also very happy to be PSV’s new goalkeeper. The goalkeeper who once started as a striker has high ambitions just like the club.
Benítez has never taken a big trophy. He lost the cup final with OGC Nice and furthermore he had to go back to the under 20. And that is partly why he left for the ambitious PSV. In more than a month’s time, the first prize must be added to the Argentine’s trophy cabinet.
“A new project has started here. Winning prizes is part of that project. PSV is a big club with a lot of history. If we win prizes as a club, that also helps me.”
“I heard I’m on a list to be selected”
It is one of the reasons that the Argentine goalie is coming to PSV. There was a lot of interest from, for example, the French top. Benítez consciously chose PSV.
“I want to play matches at a top club. That is the most important thing for my development.” He could not say exactly what he wanted to develop, but it became clear that the World Cup also plays a role.
Benítez can play for both Argentina and France. The South American country in particular seems to be an option. “I have heard that I am on a list to be selected. I don’t even know why I haven’t been summoned yet. A lot of people say I’m going to join. I won’t be fooled. That invitation will come naturally. But it is a goal.”
“When I noticed that I didn’t score much, I became a goalkeeper”
If the goalkeeper has to describe himself, he comes with various qualities. “I am aggressive and coach my defense a lot. They need to know that they can rely on me. I am also strong with my feet.”
The fact that he is strong with his feet may be because of his past. Because in youth Benítez was still in the striker. “That didn’t take long. When I noticed that I didn’t score much, I became a goalkeeper. A choice that turned out very well.”
PSV is not an unknown club for the Argentinian. Former PSV footballer Pablo Rosario always watched matches of the Eindhoven club in Nice, together with Benítez. Because there was already interest? “No, for the love of the game”