Ben Brereton is an English footballer, born in England. He started his youth career at an English club and then he signed for another English club in the English Championship. English is the only language he speaks. He drinks tea and dunks biscuits in it. He looks English, sounds English and acts English. He’s only played in England. Until this year’s Copa America tournament, that is. Because, this year, Ben Brereton is Chilean.Brereton’s presence at the important tournament is not his first foray into an international tournament – but is his first with the South American nation. He was part of the England under-19 side that won the European Under-19 Championship in 2017, beating Portugal 2-1 in the final. He even finished as joint-leading goalscorer at the competition with three goals. However, The Three Lions are in the past, because in 2021 – he’s shining for Chile.El primer gol oficial del inglés nacionalizado chileno, extremo del Blackburn Rovers, Ben Brereton 🏴🤝🇨🇱 pic.twitter.com/js7ZTLtj6V— Marca Zonal 📊⚽️ (@Marca_Zonal) June 18, 2021 Brereton’s mother Andrea Diaz was born in Concepcion and emigrated in the 1980s to Stoke-on-Trent, where she met Martin, Ben’s father, who was a policeman and an amateur footballer. He probably didn’t fancy his chances of ever receiving an England call-up, so when Chilen Football Association came calling – he said yes.The 22-year-old striker, who currently plays for Blackburn Rovers in England’s second tier, scored the only goal of the game as Chile beat Bolivia last Friday – his first for his ‘new’ national team – and assisted Eduardo Vargas as La Roja drew 1-1 with Uruguay on Monday.⚽ Gol de Eduardo Vargas🅰️ Asistencia de Ben Brereton Díaz🔥 ¡Golazo de Chile!#URUCHI #LaRoja #CopaAméricapic.twitter.com/f8xcDVzr9G— JG Fútbol (@JGFutbol10) June 23, 2021 And he’s done all that despite not speaking Spanish.”I’m half Chilean. My mum is from Chile and my dad is from England. My teammates don’t believe me. I’m learning the key words of Spanish at the moment. I talk a lot with Francisco Sierralta, who plays for Watford and knows English. But overall, I’m getting along with everybody.”Huaso Isla: “Aránguiz es muy bueno”Brereton: “Siii” Ben 10 ya aprendió lo más importante 🤩☺️ pic.twitter.com/oW0cXBLZfd— Charles Aránguiz Chile (@AranguizChile) June 22, 2021 Brereton enjoyed his best season in Rovers colours in 2020/21, netting seven goals and claiming five assists in 40 Championship appearances, as part of a formidable frontline that finished fifth highest scorers in the division. However, representing a South American country is an entirely different prospect. But Ben, who now dons both his father’s and mother’s surname on his shirt, has taken to his new role and seems to be enjoying himself with La Roja alongside players such as Claudio Bravo, Arturo Vidal, Gary Medel and Mauricio Isla.Arturo Vidal leads the Chilean celebrations (©AFP)Chile boss Martin Lasarte was the man who called Big Ben up for national duty, and he recognises the linguistic difficulty his new charge has.”It’s difficult to be in the starting eleven without speaking Spanish. But with everyone’s help, Ben is adapting to a new culture.”Chile have already secured qualification for the quarter-finals and could face the likes of Brazil, Colombia or Peru in the battle for the last four. Perhaps Ben will have some additional time to pick up a bit of Spanish from his new teammates and stop being such an alien.
