From former police officers to café owners in SC: Argentine couple experience a mix of nostalgia and personal tension Marcela Murillo, 55, and Claudio Marcelo Galarza, 57, exchanged their 30-year career as police officers in Buenos Aires, Argentina, for retirement in Canasvieiras, a favorite region of the 'hermanos' in Florianópolis. Today, the two run a local coffee shop that has become an Argentine corner in the capital of Santa Catarina. But, in addition to the aroma of coffee, the expectation for the Argentine team's debut at the 2026 World Cup has also moved the couple in recent days. ✅ Click and follow the g1 SC channel on WhatsApp The passion for the Argentine national team is marked in Cláudio's skin. At the end of the 2022 World Cup, the former police officer made a promise: he would tattoo the title cup if Argentina were the champion. He fulfilled the agreement the day after the conquest. Between laughter and a certain amount of nervousness, the wife remembers how difficult it was to watch the final of the last World Cup in Canasvieiras, when the neighborhood was taken over by a “wave of compatriots” "The street was flooded with Argentines. I thought he [Cláudio] was going to die from so much tension in the last game", jokes Marcela. For the current tournament, the couple's feeling is one of nostalgia mixed with melancholy. This will be Lionel Messi's last World Cup. For businesspeople, saying goodbye to the star is painful. "It's sad. He's an idol we have. He's a 'coloraço' [expression for a good person], a good guy, there's no equal to him." Regarding favoritism and the chance of a second consecutive Albiceleste championship, Claudio adopts a cautious and down-to-earth stance, very different from the "already won" atmosphere of 2022. For him, the title this time is open and the dispute promises to be fierce between three great powers: Argentina, Brazil and Spain. From former police officers to café owners in SC, an Argentine couple lives with a mix of nostalgia and tension for Messi's last World Cup Julia Venâncio Couple moved to Florianópolis in search of peace and quality of life Marcela and Cláudio moved to Florianópolis in 2021 when they retired from police careers in Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina. The transition from a “busy life” in the neighboring country to the coastal rhythm of the North of the Island was planned after a series of holidays in the region. “We came to seek some tranquility”, says Marcela. When retirement arrived, the couple didn't hesitate: they packed their bags and brought their youngest daughter, who at the time was only 10 years old and didn't speak a word of Portuguese. Today, at 15 years old, her parents already consider the teenager a legitimate "little girl", a nickname given to those born in Florianópolis. According to her parents, the teenager adapted so well to the local culture that the only thing that still betrays her roots is her fervent passion for football. "She already speaks [like the locals] and has the body language of Brazilians. She is very happy here, and that is the most important thing", says her mother. From former police officers to café owners in SC, an Argentine couple lives with a mix of nostalgia and tension for Messi's last World Cup Julia Venâncio The "flagship" that won over Brazilians Although they moved to Brazil without intending to open a business, the couple's energy pushed them to undertake. They started timidly, in the back of a gallery, which limited the audience to fellow countrymen and a few people they knew. Today, installed in a more visible location, they serve a mixed and captive clientele. On the menu, classics such as empanadas, pizzas and stuffed bread share space with the true pride of the house: the butter medialunas - an Argentine version of the croissant, with a different sweetness and texture. "It's our essential, primordial product. What here in Brazil you call 'flagship'", explains Claudio, adopting Brazilian slang. The medialunas are so successful that, in the summer, production takes off to supply other stores in the region, in addition to definitively winning over the taste of Brazilian customers. VIDEOS: most watched g1 SC in the last 7 days