Ben Brereton had Chile fans sending him chocolates but mates’ jibes have brought him back down to earth
BEN BRERETON knew things were getting out of hand when Chile fans sent home-made chocolates to his hotel.
Not to mention starring in a Pepsi advert aired in South America, in which he speaks broken Spanish.
Yet the Blackburn striker, 22, who starred at this summer’s Copa America, has now been pulled back down to Earth.
The Stoke-born star admitted: “The lads have taken the mick for the advert. I guess I have got to take that one!”
Brereton’s run ended with Chile’s loss to Brazil in the last eight — now he is preparing for a Championship opener against Swansea a week tomorrow.
Brereton was first approached by Chile last November and another phone call in May sealed the deal.
One month later, with Brereton-Diaz on his back to honour his mother Andrea’s maiden name, he was scoring on his first start against Bolivia.
Andrea came over to the UK from Chile, aged 16, to attend school before meeting husband and policeman, Martin.
Brereton said: “I now want to get Brereton-Diaz on my shirt. I have given my passport to the EFL to see if we can do it.”
But he is already a cult hero in his adopted nation.
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Brereton added: “The fans sent chocolates to our hotel. I got about 50 home-made ones right at my door!
“I have even had Rovers fans telling me Chile is now their second team.
“Playing against the likes of Lionel Messi has only motivated me more.”
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