The kid they call 'El Canguro' is right at home in one of world football's great cauldrons.
MUCH of Argentina's history can be understood from the Buenos Aires suburb of Nunez. Cracked pavements along lavish houses. Prestige European car dealerships covered by anti-statist graffiti. Synagogues besides churches and between embassies of nations where neither Judaism or Christianity have a presence. Standing alone and towering above all of it is the one icon that is the most dividing, the Estadio Monumental of Club Atletico River Plate.
To some, it's a lasting symbol of wealth, prosperity and grandeur. To others, it's a reminder of what once was. Though, what lies beneath is a force that's flourished in the face of recessions, social change and dictatorships – the youth academy of football club River Plate. It's a factory that operates at full capacity while other businesses teeter on the edge of insolvency. A production line where the next Gonzalo Higuain, Javier Mascherano, Erik Lamela and Alfredo Di Stefano are found and forged. It consists of the sons of the nation's most lauded footballers alongside the hardened products of the city's slums, and, in between all of this is one of Australia's best kept secrets – a 17-year-old named Gavin De Niese.
At first sight, it's hard to identify the member of the youth team called "El Canguro" (the Kangaroo). The boy from suburban Melbourne initially appears indistinguishable from his teammates, six of whom are Argentina youth internationals. He talks on the pitch with a noticeable "Porteno" accent and calls for the ball with the fervour of the locals. He displays a penchant for quick, attacking passes, ruthless tackles and possesses a technical ability synonymous with South American football.
"He's adapted well, he's a very brave kid," River Plate youth coach Luis Villalba said. "He had a lot to learn out wide . . . Now he's physically and technically really good."
Although, those were not the traits that caught the eye of the club's talent scouts or even Australian-based coach, Daniel Santomil.
"He was just like any other kid. You couldn't tell early on in Gavin. It wasn't up until he started training for a year that I just saw the difference," Santomil said.
His determination earned him a three-month training stint with River at the age of 13 in 2009. He was one of a small group that was selected to undertake the short apprenticeship as a result of ties between Melbourne academy, River Plate Oceania, and the parent club. The coaching staff at the Argentinian powerhouse were initially not overly receptive towards Australian players. However, they took notice of the youngster's exceptional work ethic, and offered him the chance to make his move permanent.
"From the first day, I saw a great professional. Gavin, I've known for three or four years. He's a kid that is always very strong. He has a great capacity and is very professional," says River Plate's senior fitness coach, Gustavo Perez Solano.
The show of faith from the notoriously ruthless talent scouts of River Plate was not blind, and to this day, De Niese remains the only non-South American youth player retained by the club beyond a short training stint.
"When I first came here there was one boy from Ecuador, and he was the only other foreigner, but obviously he is still South American and he was here since he was 10. Otherwise, I was the only other one here from another country," De Niese says. "You see a lot of other kids from other countries come through but they only stay for a week or two before they move on."
At the start of his teenage years, De Niese had to learn how to cook, clean and attend school in a foreign country while training. The initial loneliness of adjusting to life in a new country alone at such a young age was gradually eased by the companionship of his father, Kevin, who sacrificed his job, family and relationship to support his son's dream.
"When I found out that River wanted Gavin for next year, it took me about three seconds and I thought, 'Let's just go for it,' " Kevin says.
A fitter and turner by trade, Kevin gave up his income to be alongside Gavin, leaving behind his girlfriend and his daughter in Melbourne. His decision was a "no-brainer", but the slight shuffle as he walks around the River training camp provides a glimpse of the toll it has taken.
"I didn't think I would ever have to learn Spanish at 48 years of age so that was pretty difficult. That's OK, I've overcome it and I can get by. Money's a problem but I can go back to Australia and work. I'm here because he's here."
That support off the field helped Gavin's on-field performance. He has developed from a right winger to the youth team's most versatile player. He has starred in tournaments as a defensive midfielder, right back and even as a converted No.10, an "enganche" in the local tongue.
However after scoring the winning goal in a pre-season grand final last January, he was dealt a heavy blow. A change in FIFA's rules relating to foreign youth players in South America prohibited him from playing in sanctioned Argentinian Football Association tournaments. He was consigned to a place in the stands every Saturday, having trained with the country's elite each week.
"Regrettably I can't use him because of red tape," Villalba says. "A year ago I had an intention to use him this year as well, and unfortunately I can't. Inside the youth squad, he's an adaptable player, he's improved a lot, he's at the level of [the club]."
De Niese had witnessed his teammates released for less, and there were times he feared it would end his progression in Argentina.
Unable to be registered for official games, he's spent this year playing in rare friendly matches while training full-time as he awaits his 18 birthday in January and the promise of a permanent youth contract that will make him available for tournaments. "This year I haven't been able to play, but all the coaches have been telling me to take it easy because next year I will have my time to play," Gavin says. "The boys, they help me out a lot, they just keep saying that once my chance comes I will be able to do what I can."
However, that setback is little to what he endured before arriving at River. Emotional tales are inked on his skin in a storyline that trickles down from his right shoulder to his wrist – tributes to his mother and grandfather, who both died when he was a young child.
He speaks openly about the meanings carved on his skin but there is a slight pause in his tone, rather than the usual free-flowing conversation that echoes his style of football. He recounts the symbolism of his mother and grandfather reflected in his tattoos.
His father acknowledges that his son is assimilating in his new environment, but knows that he hasn't lost touch with his origins.
"We're tough, probably because of our background. We're from Melbourne, working class, nothing's come easy. He's had that from a young age when he left home. He was a man when he was 13," Kevin says.
Next year, Gavin will return to River to form part of their under-18 squad for the fourth time.
Joining his compatriots in wearing the famous red sash of River Plate will be beyond a reward for De Niese, it will justify all the sacrifice and hardship he's endured since he was a child.
"There's a lot of history within the club, there's a lot of players that have come out from there from all ages, players come out of it like Mascherano, Higuain . . . You just wonder that maybe they're through all their training and hopefully one day I can get somewhere," De Niese says.
A long-term deal and another year in the land of silver will also bear another importance, as he will be one step closer to earning an Argentinian passport that would resolve all his problems in regards to playing with River Plate.
The passport would also make him eligible to be selected for Argentina's national teams, however De Niese's ambitions are for green and gold, not blue and white.
"I'd rather play for Australia, there's no doubt about that." he says.
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