Gaitán playing for Benfica in 2016
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Personal information | |||
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Full name | Osvaldo Nicolás Fabián Gaitán | ||
Date of birth | 23 February 1988 | ||
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
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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. |
* 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.