While Lionel Messi was leading the line for Barcelona is today’s El Clasico and breaking records in the process, a member of his family was hoping to make history of their own in Peru.
Argentinian midfielder Emanuel Biancucchi – Messi’s 29-year-old cousin, no less – has completed his move to Peruvian side FBC Melgar, joining them in time for the 2018 season and their run in the Copa Libertadores.
The fairly unknown playmaker has had a somewhat journeyman career so far, turning out for the likes of 1860 Munich, Girona, Independiente, Olimpia, Bahia, Vasco Da Gama, Ceara and Rubio Nu, as well as Messi’s first club Newell’s Old Boys.
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He’s joins the club as they attempt to enter the group stage of the Copa Libertadores, which is basically the South American equivalent of the Champions League.
Biancucchi, who quite understandably wants to distance himself from comparisons with his world-famous cousin, saying: “I’m not a born goalscorer.
“I’m more a passer, I like the ball stopped, the goals are not my strength.
“I have a lot of expectations and I’m getting physically well for the Libertadores phase.
“It will be a nice challenge, I am an offensive midfielder, I can go down the flanks, but I feel comfortable in the middle.”
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