Juan José Cáceres #4

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Another Argentina-born Paraguay international, Cáceres started in youth football as a goalkeeper, moved into midfield, progressed through the Boca Juniors youth system as a striker, and then changed positions again after they released him and he arranged a trial at Racing. “I talked to my friends and family and decided that I would try my luck as a defender – they had so many strikers,” he said. Racing liked what they saw and took him on; he made his debut at centre-back before shifting one last time, to right-back. His parents are both Paraguayan, and he was raised in the poor Buenos Aires district of Dock Sud – “It was a humble little house, made of corrugated iron,” he said. “When it rained the pipes would get clogged and water would start pouring in” – but he had spent his entire life in Argentina until he moved to play in Russia in 2025. Still, there was never any doubt about which nation he would play for. “I want to represent Paraguay because it would bring so much joy to my parents,” he said.

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