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Nicolás Gaitán

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Nico Gaitán
Gaitán in action for Benfica
Personal information
Full name Osvaldo Nicolás Fabián Gaitán
Date of birth (1988-02-23) 23 February 1988 (age 36)
Place of birth San Martín, Argentina
Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Position(s) Attacking midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Benfica
Number 20
Youth career
2001–2008 Boca Juniors
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2008–2010 Boca Juniors 66 (12)
2010–2012 Benfica 92 (93)
2012– BESIKTAS 17 (56)
International career‡
2009– Argentina 6 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 9 December 2013
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 13 February 2010

Osvaldo Nicolás "Nico" Fabián Gaitán (born 23 February 1988) is an Argentine footballer who plays for S.L. Benfica in the Primeira Liga and the Argentine national team, mainly as an attacking midfielder.

Club career

Boca Juniors

Born in San Martín, Buenos Aires, Gaitán rose from the ranks at Boca Juniors, having entered its youth system at the age of 13 in spite of doubts regarding his future due to his small frame.[1] He made his competitive debut with the club on 1 June 2008 in a 3–1 win against Arsenal de Sarandí, and scored his first two Primera División goals two months later in a 3–0 success at Club Atlético Huracán.[2]

On 23 September 2008 Gaitán netted his first goal in an international tournament, that year's Copa Sudamericana, against Liga Deportiva Universitaria de Quito. Two days later he again made the scoresheet, in the 4–2 win over Newell's Old Boys where he also set up Lucas Viatri for his side's final goal.[3]

Gaitán scored seven times in 33 games in his last season with Boca, who only managed to finish 11th in the Apertura and 16th in the Clausura, however.

Benfica

On 3 May 2010, Portugal's S.L. Benfica confirmed they had reached an agreement to sign Gaitán for €8.4 million,[4] as a replacement for countryman Ángel di María who had just been sold to Real Madrid –[5]his move, after the transfer of Óscar Cardozo for €11.6 million, was the second most expensive purchase in the club's history. He made his official debut for his new team by starting and playing 66 minutes in a 1–2 away loss to C.D. Nacional, opening his scoring account also with a brace, at home against Associação Naval 1º de Maio on 14 November (4–0).

Gaitán finished his first year with the Lisbon side with 48 appearances all competitions comprised, scoring nine times as it finished second in the league and won the domestic league cup.

International career

Gaitán made his international debut for Argentina on 30 September 2009, as a substitute in a 2–0 friendly win with Ghana, and he made his first start in a 3–2 success against Costa Rica on 26 January of the following year.

Honours

Club

Boca Juniors
Benfica

Individual

Statistics

Club

Statistics accurate as of 19 May 2013[6][7]

Club Season League Cup League Cup Continental Other[nb 1] Total
Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists
Boca Juniors 2007–08 1 0 0 – – 0 0 0 – 1 0 0
2008–09 32 5 3 – – 11 1 1 – 43 6 4
2009–10 33 7 8 – – 2 0 0 – 35 7 8
Total 66 12 11 – – 13 1 1 – 79 13 12
Benfica 2010–11 26 7 6 5 1 2 3 0 1 13 1 1 1 0 0 48 9 10
2011–12 25 3 7 1 0 0 4 0 3 14 1 5 – 44 4 15
2012–13 24 3 10 5 1 2 2 0 0 13 1 1 – 44 5 13
2013–14 18 2 4 3 0 4 1 1 0 6 2 2 – 28 5 9
Total 92 15 27 13 2 6 10 1 4 46 5 9 1 0 0 163 23 47
Career total 159 27 37 12 2 4 10 1 4 55 6 9 1 0 0 241 36 55

International

National team Year Apps Goals
Argentina 2009 1 0
2010 2 0
2011 3 0
2012 0 0
Total 6 0

Statistics accurate as of 9 April 2012[8]

Style of play

Gaitán began playing as a midfielder, sometimes leaning to the left. After moving to Benfica he assumed a more advanced role, where he seemed more comfortable.

A left-footer who is also able to play on the right, with good dribbling skills and close control, Gaitán's main asset is ball distribution as he is able to cross from either flank, and while on the right he possesses the vision to pick holes when cutting inside.[9][10]

Notes

  1. ^ Includes other competitive competitions, including the Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira

References

  1. ^ "Nicolás Gaitán". The Elastico. 29 December 2011. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
  2. ^ "Todo fue muy sencillo" (in Spanish). ESPN FC. 31 August 2008. Retrieved 10 October 2013. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  3. ^ "Newells 2 Boca 4 – Apertura 2008" (in Spanish). Taringa. 25 September 2008. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
  4. ^ "Comunicado" (PDF) (in Portuguese). CMVM. 3 May 2010. Retrieved 3 May 2010. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  5. ^ "Why Benfica's Nicolas Gaitan is more complete than Real Madrid's Angel Di Maria, but still too expensive for Manchester United". Goal.com. 22 November 2011. Retrieved 10 June 2012.
  6. ^ "Nicolás Gaitán – Performance data". Transfermarkt. Retrieved 16 April 2012.
  7. ^ "Nicolás Gaitán". Football Database. Retrieved 16 April 2012.
  8. ^ Nicolás Gaitán at National-Football-Teams.com
  9. ^ "Talent scout: Nicolás Gaitán, Benfica". The Independent. 26 November 2011. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
  10. ^ "Manchester United transfers: Scouting report for Nicolas Gaitan". Bleacher Report. 10 May 2012. Retrieved 10 October 2013.

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