Nicolás Gaitán

Nicolás Gaitán

Gaitán playing for Benfica in 2016
Personal information
Full name	Osvaldo Nicolás Fabián Gaitán
Date of birth	(1988-02-23) 23 February 1988 (age 28)
Place of birth	San Martín, Argentina
Height	1.74 m (5 ft 8 1⁄2 in)
Playing position	Attacking midfielder / Winger
Club information
Current team	Atlético Madrid
Number	23
Youth career
2001–2008	Boca Juniors
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2008–2010	Boca Juniors	66	(12)
2010–2016	Benfica	152	(25)
2016–	Atlético Madrid	10	(3)
National team‡
2009–	Argentina	16	(2)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 14 January 2017. ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 18 June 2016

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 14 January 2017.

Osvaldo Nicolás Fabián "Nico" Gaitán (born 23 February 1988) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays for Spanish club Atlético Madrid and the Argentina national team, mainly as an attacking midfielder.

A product of Boca Juniors, he joined Benfica in Portugal, where he won three Primeira Liga titles, one Taça de Portugal, five Taça da Liga and one Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira in six seasons.

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. 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 Huracán.

On 23 September 2008 Gaitán netted his first goal in an international tournament, that year's Copa Sudamericana, against Liga 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.