OBETZ, Ohio – Federico Higuain’s brother Gonzalo – a world-class striker for Italian side Napoli – isn’t the only Columbus Crew sibling playing for a club in Europe that's been in Champions League in recent years.
Bernardo Anor’s brother Juan Pablo made his debut in the starting lineup Wednesday for Spanish La Liga side Malaga. And the 20-year-old wasn’t just getting garbage minutes, he lined up in the center of the Malaga midfield against Barcelona and the likes of Lionel Messi.
“Seeing him start for the first team and play 85 minutes is pretty stunning,” Bernardo told MLSsoccer.com after Crew training Thursday.
Both brothers grew up in Caracas, Venezuela, but Juan Pablo – commonly known as Juanpi – has been in the Malaga system since he was 15, while Bernardo went to the University of South Florida before being drafted by the Crew.
“With my brother, it was a little bit different,” Bernardo said. “He had an opportunity to become a pro when he was really young and they offered him a contract in Europe and we decided to give it a try. It’s a risk that the family took… but I’m sure my dad is pretty happy with the decision they made.”
Despite the time difference, Bernardo says the brothers talk every day over Skype. He said it’s no surprise that they have both been successful in their soccer careers.
“My dad was a professional soccer player, and we grew up watching him,” he said. “It was the first sport that we were introduced to. Once we tried it, we liked it, and my dad wanted us to give it a try and see where we could go with it.”
Both brothers are lefties, but Bernardo plays on the left wing for the Crew while he described Juan Pablo as more of an central attacking midfielder.
And while neither brother has added a senior Venezuela cap to their resume just yet, Bernardo thinks that they could both have an opportunity with new boss Noel Sanvicente at the helm.
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“[Sanvicente] definitely knows about both of us,” Bernardo said. “I’m sure my brother, with the way he’s playing for the team he’s playing with, he’s going to get called up and get his chance.
“When it comes to me, everyone has a different time. My brother is 20, I’m 26, and he got the experience a little bit earlier. But we’re working hard, and being persistent is what’s going to get you there. So it all comes down to being patient.”
Bernardo says he knows he’s ready for that chance. But in the meantime, he’ll be working on his own career with the Crew while watching Juan Pablo closely.
“We always grew up with the same dream,” he said. “We took different ways, but in the end we accomplished what each of us wanted.”
