The Emperor's Cup

Match against Jubilo Iwata.
Diego was benched.
Since Diego is not in the game, I have no memory of the game.

As you can see from the photo, Diego can kick the ball with either his right or left foot.

He is a Minamino.
There is one episode.
I went to watch a match between the Uruguayan national team and the Japanese national team in October 2018. At that time, Minamino scored two goals. He was playing in Europe at the time and was playing for the national team.
It was the first time I had seen a Uruguayan national team game, so I told Diego how I felt that day.
Diego was in Spain on business at the time.
He said, "I was watching the game at the hotel, and Takumi's two goals were great.

Diego was concerned about the players he played with even after he left Cerezo.

The reporter in charge of Cerezo passed on a message from Diego to Minamino.

"Diego was a great player. Everything he did was exemplary and he was a model of professionalism. And of course, his work on the pitch. I really observed him, stole everything from him, and tried to learn from him," Minamino said in an interview at the time.

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天皇杯

残暑厳しい大阪の夏の夜、天皇杯の試合を見に行った。
相手はジュビロ磐田。
この日ディエゴはベンチ。まぁ仕方ないとは思っても少しでも見たかったのが本音。
試合内容は全く覚えてなくて……….。
南野選手のエピソードを１つ。

2018年さいたまにウルグアイ代表vs日本代表の試合を観戦しに行って
代表の試合を見た興奮冷めやらぬうちに連絡したら「南野はいいプレーをしてたね！2ゴール素晴らしかった」と。
"当時仕事でスペインに行っていたけど試合を見ていてくれたんだ～。"

セレッソ担当の記者の方がディエゴさんからのメッセージを南野選手に直接伝えてくれた事は本当に感謝しています。
セレッソを離れてもかつてのチームメイトの事を気にしていたのは事実です。
それがわかったのはこの時から４年後の2018年。