The 32-year-old centre was born and raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina, just like his Italy coach, but aside from occasionally speaking Spanish with one another, he insisted the boss treats all his players the same.

He told Rugby World magazine: “We sometimes take advantage of the opportunity to speak a bit of Spanish to one another, but in every other respect it’s exactly the same relationship that all the other players have.”

The sportsman thinks Gonzalo is an excellent coach.

He gushed: “I obviously knew all about him from seeing him on TV, but Gonzalo wasn’t someone I had ever met before I came to Italy. I love the way he is with people, as well as being an exceptionally detailed coach who is ultra clear about what he wants, he enjoys speaking about life away from the field and treats everyone in the same way.”

The Benetton player admitted it is still “a bit strange” turning out for Italy when they play Argentina, despite his loyalty to his grandparents’ country of birth.

He said: “It’s obviously a bit strange but probably not as much as when I first did it in 2021.

“I’m a bit more mature now but I won’t lie – it’s clearly special.

“Argentina will always be where I was born, where I grew up, and where my friends and family – my whole life – is.”