Like David Trezeguet a decade ago, French-born Gonzalo Higuain is making a name for himself in Argentina soccer.
Higuain, 18, scored twice for River Plate in its 3-1 win over Boca Juniors Sunday in Argentina's ''Superclasico,'' and River coach Daniel Passarella says his youngster has an enormous future ahead of him.
''I don't know how much longer he is going to be in Argentina,'' Passarella said Monday, ''but the big teams in Europe are interested in him, and I don't think he'll stay long here with us.''
Like Trezeguet, whose father, Jorge, played in France before returning to Argentina, Higuain is the son of a former Argentina pro, Jorge Higuain, who played in France. Gonzalo Higuain speaks no French and was only in France for 10 months before returning home with his family.
Higuain, who has scored seven goals this season and 11 in 30 league games with River, is eligible to play for Argentina or France — Trezeguet joined the Bleus after returning to France as a teenager — and Passarella is lobbying for him to play for the Albiceleste.
''The French are very cold,'' Passarella said. ''It is much warmer with the Argentine national team.''