'Back to business' for Ben Brereton as Blackburn Rovers talks continue

The club will look to push on with contract talks with the 22-year-old and his representatives which had begun prior to his exploits with Chile in the Copa America. There is a consensus that it will get over the line, with Brereton’s current contract set to expire next summer, but for the attacker, his focus is on getting to work quickly on the Brockhall training pitches to be in the best shape possible for the upcoming season.

There has been a swell of focus on Brereton during his time with La Roja, but now back in pre-season, he is looking to build on his exploits with Chile, and on his seven goals last season.

He said: “It’s time to get back to business now.

“I absolutely loved the whole experience and it’s allowed me to see a different side of football and has given me even more hunger and motivation. I want more of it.”

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From trying to learn Spanish in a day, to starring on the international stage against some of the world’s biggest stars, it is no surprise to hear Ben Brereton describe his summer as “a whirlwind”.

He returned to Rovers on Wednesday with a beaming smile, a new army of South American fans, the well-wishes of everyone at the club, and also a new identity – Ben Brereton Diaz.

There was certainly no sign of regret from the 22-year-old at pledging his allegiance to Chile before going on to represent them in all five of their Copa America fixtures, scoring on his first start in their sole win over Bolivia.

Brereton admits there was a little trepidation about making the long journey to Santiago to meet up with his new team-mates, not least how he would be received, and difficulties overcoming the language barrier.

But the country quickly took him to heart, Brereton-mania was upon us, and has shown no signs of slowing down two weeks on from the tournament finishing.

“I remember getting there and I think a few people would have been saying things about not knowing who I am, that I can’t speak the language and things like that,” Brereton explained.

“They were brilliant though and gave me such a confidence boost throughout my time over there.

“The language wasn’t too much of a problem on the pitch but it was difficult to have a conversation off it.

“The English speakers took me in and it was normal to spend time with them for the couple of months I was there.

“It was a whirlwind having gone to Chile without knowing too much about the country or the language and meeting all the lads. I eventually got my opportunity and it was a brilliant time and a brilliant opportunity for me.”

Despite having represented England at every age group up to Under-20s after being born and raised in Stoke-on-Trent and playing for Nottingham Forest and Rovers at senior level, Brereton has also taken Chile to his heart.

The opportunity was first muted back in the winter which is when the process to get his papers in check began.

The cancellation of the World Cup qualifiers in March saw those pushed back to June, on the eve of the Copa America, and by that point, there was a swell of talk about Brereton being named in Martin Lasarte’s squad.

“I was with my mum and dad at the time, they’d come up to Blackburn to see me,” he added.

“We were all really excited by the news, my mum was so happy. She was trying to teach me Spanish in a day but I was never going to learn the language that quickly!

“My mum is really proud and she was crying when I told her the news. My grandad lives in Stoke with my nan and they were also really happy.

“Most of my family lives in Chile, in Santiago, and I saw a few of them on the first day I landed.”

Chilean journalists quickly scrambled to find out information about Brereton, his favourite position, his best characteristics, and more, as news surfaced about his call-up.

For Brereton, it is always something that has been on his radar, given his mother’s links to the country, the family deciding together that this was too good an opportunity to turn down.

Asked if it was a tough call, he responded: “I don’t think it was, no. I just thought about what a great opportunity it would be to play with some of the best players in the world. As soon as it came up I was excited to go and play for Chile.”

Chile are undergoing something of a transition period, the stars of World Cup and Copa America success such as Claudio Bravo, Gary Medel, Arturo Vidal and Alexis Sanchez still part of the fold, but getting into the twilight of their careers.

Their search for a No.9 took them to Brereton, the English-Chilean as he became affectionately known, and with his six-foot plus frame, shaggy hair and beard, he certainly stood out from the rest of his team-mates.

It was from a central position that he opened the scoring against Bolivia, 12 minutes into his first start, which helped lift the gloom of Rovers supporters who had just seen England stumble to a 0-0 draw with Scotland at Wembley.

On the goal, celebrated as loudly in East Lancashire as it was Santiago, Brereton said: “It was amazing and it was also brilliant to see all the support I received from the Chile fans and the Rovers supporters.

“I still think about that moment and the feeling. I couldn’t believe it when I scored the goal and I knew how proud my friends and family would have been back home.”

An iconic picture from his time with the national team was him challenging Lionel Messi during the opening group fixture with eventual winners Argentina.

He also shared a pitch with Brazil star Neymar, experiences he says he won’t forget.

He added: “They’re legends of the game and you don’t really think about it as the game’s going on, to be honest. Once the match is over, you do sit there and think and reflect on the whole experience. I don’t mind questions about playing against these sort of players. Messi and Neymar play football like it’s so easy.”