Éver Banega

Personal information
Full name	Éver Maximiliano David Banega
Date of birth	29 June 1988 (1988-06-29) (age 21)
Place of birth	Rosario, Argentina
Height	1.74 m (5 ft 8+1⁄2 in)
Playing position	Midfielder
Club information
Current club	Valencia
Number	24
Youth career
2000–2007	Boca Juniors
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2007	Boca Juniors	28	(0)
2008–	Valencia	21	(0)
2008–2009	→ Atlético Madrid (loan)	24	(1)
National team‡
2007	Argentina U20	14	(0)
2008	Argentina U23	5	(0)
2008–	Argentina	2	(0)
Honours Competitor for  Argentina Men's Football Gold 2008 Beijing Team Competition
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 13 September 2009. † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 3 December 2007

Éver Maximiliano David Banega (born 29 June 1988 in Rosario, Santa Fe) is an Argentine professional footballer currently playing for Valencia CF, mainly as a central midfielder.

[edit] Club career

[edit] Boca Juniors

Banega came through the youth ranks at Boca Juniors, reaching the first team at 18, and winning immediate recognition thanks to his passing average and his performances in the first division. After teammate midfielder Fernando Gago moved to Real Madrid in January 2007, Banega was named as his successor, despite his young age.^[1]

He made his professional debut in the 4-0 victory against Club Atlético Banfield on February 10, 2007. On April 2, just a few matches afterwards, he was given an ovation when he left the field.^[2]

[edit] Valencia

On January 5, 2008, Banega signed with Spanish side Valencia CF on a five and-a-half year deal, for a fee of around €18 million.^[3] He had his first training session with the club on the 7th.^[4][5]

On 13 January 2008, Banega made his debut coming on as a substitute during the break, in a final 0-1 loss at Atlético de Madrid.^[6]

Banega was loaned to Atlético for 2008–09.^[7] He made his official debut as a substitute during the Colchoneros's 3-0 win at PSV Eindhoven, in the first group stage match of the UEFA Champions League.

However, Banega failed to settle at Atlético's starting XI, also being sent off twice, in away draws against Villarreal CF^[8] and UD Almería.

Although the club was looking to dispatch him, Banega returned for 2009–10; after an impressive pre-season, he assisted both goals in Valencia's opening game against Sevilla FC.

During his time at Valencia, he was also involved in a scandal when a 6-minute video of him appearing nude during an online chat ended up on the Argentine website, Subiteya.com

[edit] International career

Banega was selected for the U20 team, alongside future Atlético teammate Sergio Agüero for the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Canada, which they won.

Soon after joining Valencia in January 2008, Banega made his debut for the Argentina national team, in a 5-0 friendly win over Guatemala, on February 6, 2008, which he started.^[9][10] During that summer, he appeared for the nation with the Olympic side at the Summer Olympics, helping to an eventual gold medal.

[edit] Titles

Season	Club	Title
2007	Boca Juniors	Libertadores Cup
2007	Argentina Under-20	FIFA U-20 World Cup
2008	Valencia	Spanish Cup
2008	Argentina Under-23	Olympic Football Tournament

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• BDFutbol profile
• Official website (Spanish)
• The Football Scout review
• Video compilation

v • d • e Argentina squad – 2008 Olympic Gold Medalists 1 Ustari • 2 Garay • 3 Monzón • 4 Zabaleta • 5 Gago • 6 Fazio • 7 Sosa • 8 Banega • 9 Lavezzi • 10 Riquelme • 11 Di María • 12 Pareja • 13 Acosta • 14 Mascherano • 15 Messi • 16 Agüero • 17 Buonanotte • 18 Romero • 22 Navarro • Coach: Batista