DUBAI – Football player Pablo Zabaleta visited Expo 2020 Dubai on Thursday, where he talked about his fondness for his former club, Manchester City FC, his coaching aspirations, and his frequent visits to the Middle East. Expo 2020 Dubai is the Official Exhibition Partner of English Premier League champions Manchester City.
Can you explain what you’re doing here today at Expo 2020 Dubai? What have been your highlights so far?
I’ve been really enjoying my time at Expo 2020. I had seen a few videos of it, but never thought it would be as big as it is. I’m really impressed – so many people and a lot of families around, it’s really fantastic.
How can football and sport more widely help to bring the world together?
Football definitely has the power to bring the world together, as we have seen here. It is one of the main sports around the world, so football players and everyone involved in football have the power to help people and bring them together, no matter where they are. As a football player, I’ve shared the [locker] room with people from so many different countries, who all spoke different languages, and it was a great experience.
You’re here today at Expo 2020 with Manchester City, where you spent the longest and most successful spell of your playing career. What is your involvement with the club nowadays?
I spent nine years at Manchester City, and it is one of the clubs I really enjoyed my time with. I joined when it was a different time, with Vincent Kompany being one of the survivors. We saw a lot of changes with the new owners, who invested so much money into bringing top players and improving the facilities – and we then became one of the greatest clubs, not just in England, but in the world. It’s something I’m very proud of, and I have so many great memories being a Manchester City player, including winning trophies. It was an absolutely fantastic time.
You visited the Argentina Pavilion earlier today. What were your impressions?
It was a bit nostalgic for me because I was born in Argentina, and was very young when I left. I have lived in Europe for so many years, but seeing your country and your people is still so special. I could see them dancing the tango, and there were a lot of pictures of [Diego] Maradona, so it was great. I love my country, I still have family over there and hopefully I’ll have the chance to go soon.
What’s next for you in football? Do you have ambitions in coaching or management?
At the moment, I’m enjoying my free time. As a football player, you have so many games during the season and not much time to enjoy with your family. I’ve got two little boys that I now dedicate all my time toward, helping them grow, watching games with them, and travelling. Looking forward, coaching could be one of the things that I would probably like to do. I’m… coaching matches now, as well also doing things with Manchester City and different sponsors, and punditry for TV. It’s a different life after football; you need to find the right thing to keep you alive and happy, but obviously I’ll always be involved in football. I’ve been doing it for so many years, and I love it.
Will we see you back in this part of the world in some capacity for the World Cup next year?
It’s one year until the World Cup, and Argentina will be there, so it would be brilliant to catch some of the games there if I have the chance. The Middle East is one of my favourite places to travel. The weather is great, and I’m always spending time in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, so hopefully I’ll have the opportunity to come back to the region next year.