My First Spurs Christmas - Paulo Gazzaniga

We caught up with this year’s new signings to find out about their plans for the festive period and how they’ve celebrated in the past. The week-long series continues today with goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga, who arrived from Southampton this year, via a loan spell at Rayo Vallecano in Spain...

Paulo Gazzaniga

Born: Argentina.
Previous clubs: Gillingham, Southampton, Rayo Vallecano.

What will you do on Christmas Day? 
My family is coming to visit me in London. My brother Gianfranco, who is a goalkeeper for El Ejido in Spain – he used to play for Almeria – is travelling over with his girlfriend and also a friend from Argentina. They’re coming over a few days before Christmas because in Spain they have a short period of holidays at this time of year, but afterwards he has to go straight back because he has to train on December 26.

How does this differ from past Christmases for you? 
I had a couple of days’ holiday last year when I was with Rayo Vallecano in Spain. I stayed in Madrid and I had a lot of friends and family around the table so it was very busy, but the difference this year will be that there will be some different people with me, perhaps not as many, because I am in London. But they will still be good company!

What is traditional at Christmas in Argentina? 
You have to remember that Christmas is in winter here, but over there it is in the summer so it’s a big difference. You celebrate by eating outside the house in the garden. You eat meat, asados (barbeque food) and we celebrate on the night of December 24. We wait for 12 o’clock to say ‘cheers’ with our glasses and then at one minute past 12, you all go to the tree to open your presents. On December 25 you eat the food that was left over from the day before!

What is your favourite festive meal? 
Asados like I mentioned just now. I like to have it with potatoes and salad.

What do you wish for at Christmas? 
When I was a child I asked for all kinds of material things but of course I am not a child any more so I wish for health to my family and all the people and love to everybody – that is my wish for this Christmas.

What was your most memorable gift as a child? 
It was difficult because my Santa – we call him Papa Noel – was not in a great situation at that moment so he couldn’t always bring me what I asked for. But I remember one time I got a scooter that I shared with my brother.

Check out the answers from Fernando Llorente, Davinson Sanchez and Serge Aurier from earlier this week and be sure to look out for the final edition with defender Juan Foyth on Friday.