Federico Fernandez smiles warmly as he recalls how a hopeful telephone call, followed by a 350-mile drive and an unlikely pedal-boat ride, set him on the road to the Premier League and Swansea City.

Like so many, a life playing football was all he dreamt of as a kid.

He lived and breathed the game and, when asked by his father what he wanted to be, the answer was always the same: a footballer.

Fernandez senior decided to take action.

The family are supporters of Estudiantes, so his father found a phone number, called up the club’s switchboard and enquired as to whether it would be possible for his son to have a trial.

The rest, as they say, is history. Fifteen years and some 7,000 miles later and Fernandez is skippering Swansea City in the Premier League, one of the world’s most high-profile competitions.

Not that preparing for his big chance all those years ago was straightforward by any means for the then 14-year-old.

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“I had the week off school to go. We had to be at the club on the Monday, so we drove all the way (around 370 miles) on the Saturday so we had the Sunday to relax,” says the 29-year-old.

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“But, on the Sunday, my father said to me ‘Federico, you have to find some way to train. You need to move your legs, you need to make sure you are ready. What can we do?’

“We were by a big lake and he saw there was a man there selling pedal-boat rides, we went down and he took one onto the water.

“They were for two people to pedal, but he said ‘Now Fede, you can take us around the lake’ and he put his feet up!

“We were out there for ages, I was so tired and my legs were hurting. I wondered how I would train.

“But it worked because I spent a week there and they invited me back to join them from the start of 2004, that was how it all started for me.”

It is a story made all the more poignant by the recent passing of Fernandez’s father - at the age of just 58 - in November of 2017, the night before Swansea City played Bournemouth.

It says much about Fernandez’s strength of character that he has dealt with such a traumatic event for he and his family with such quiet dignity, while managing to continue to perform to a high level and lead Swansea during their battle to stay in the top-flight.

A cerebral, intelligent and eloquent man, Fernandez speaks with a touching fondness and warmth for his father and acknowledges such a challenging time does alter the perspective from which a person views the highs and lows of a football career.

“It was a very hard time, my father did so much for me and my family and we miss him every day,” says Fernandez, whose English is exemplary, particularly considering he barely spoke a word when he left Napoli to join Swansea in 2014.

“There are things in life that are more important than football. Football means a lot to me and I will always give my very best, but your family is most important.

“It has been a very hard time, for my mother especially as she looked after my father, but we know he is now at peace.

“It is hard to say you move on, but I know my father would want us to do that and make the most of our lives.

“I have a beautiful young daughter, I play for a great club in a great competition and these are times to make the most of, but I will always have so many warm and favourite memories of him.”

His father’s appreciation of his son’s undoubted talent paid rich dividends.

(Image: Getty Images)

Fernandez - who, tellingly in a country where players such as Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi are revered, idolised the defender Roberto Ayala - spent eight years with Estudiantes, helping them win South America’s version of the Champions League; the Copa Libertadores.

His time at the La Plata club also brought him into contact with another Argentinian great, a man he has come to consider a close friend and counsel, and who has made him the standing offer to rejoin his boyhood club.

That man, is none other than Juan Sebastian Veron, the former Chelsea and Manchester United midfielder, who is now chairman of Estudiantes.

“I was lucky to be at the club when Veron came back in 2006, and I got to play with him,” says Fernandez, another hearty smile breaking across his face.

“Marcos Rojo was there too and we had a good team.

“I know Juan Sebastian came out of retirement again last year. I joked to him ‘You need to make your mind up, retire or play’, but he is still excellent.

“We keep in touch, they are building a new stadium. I helped the club because I bought a small (hospitality) box because they need the money.

“He always tells me the door is open for me to play for Estudiantes again if I come back to Argentina.

“That makes me happy because it means you have made a good impression on people.

(Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency)

“So I have a big gratitude to him, he also gave me advice when I moved to Napoli and Swansea and told me about European football, the leagues he enjoyed and what I should try and do. He told me it was just perfect.

“He was right, just look at the training ground we have here, the stadium and the fans we have in Swansea.

“He also told me I was good enough to play for the national team, and I managed to do that.”

That is something of an understatement given Fernandez was part of the Argentina squad that reached the World Cup final four years ago.

He also enjoyed another special day in the colours of La Albiceleste in 2012, playing in a 4-3 win over Brazil in New Jersey. Argentina’s goalscorers that day: Fernandez and Messi.

“He is amazing, you don’t want to mark him even in training,” says Fernandez of the Barcelona star.

“He makes it all look so easy, I think it will be a long time before we see another like him, just look at all the record he has broken.

“To play with him is special, and to score with him in such a big game was special too.

“The only thing missing is a World Cup, I really hope for him and for Argentina there will be something to celebrate in Russia.”

Before anyone begins to think about Russia this summer there is the small matter of the Premier League relegation dogfight to be played out.

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Swansea can potentially open up a seven-point gap over the bottom three if they can beat Everton at the Liberty Stadium.

The home fixture against the Toffees proved pivotal 12 months ago - Swansea triumphing 1-0 amidst a febrile atmosphere following Hull’s defeat to Sunderland - the skipper has his sights set on a repeat as the hosts eye a fifth-straight league win on home turf.

“This game last season was just amazing. The atmosphere was brilliant, one of the best,” says Fernandez.

“That game was massive, as is this. It’s a big opportunity for us.

“The crowd cheered every tackle, every corner, they were a big part of that win and we need to start well this weekend to have the same.

“We have to show how hard it is to play Swansea in our stadium. We need to be aggressive.

“We know we have been playing better but there is more to do.

“I am proud to be captain and I want to help us be safe, I have advice from Leon (Britton) and Angel (Rangel) too.

“Swansea has been good to me and my family, I want to make sure we are in the Premier League.”