Roberto Soldado Rillo (born May 27, 1985 in Valencia) is a Spanish footballer currently with Getafe CF, as a striker.

[edit] Club career

Soldado joined Real Madrid at the age of 15 from Don Bosco CF, a small club in the Valencia area. After seasons of prolific goalscoring with the club's B team, he made his first team debuts on October 23, 2005, against Valencia CF, playing 18 minutes in a 1–2 home loss. Previously, on September 28, he scored an 86th minute winner, after just six minutes on the pitch, in the UEFA Champions League contest against Olympiakos FC (2–1 home win), adding a late equalizer against CA Osasuna and another in a 3–2 away success at Racing de Santander, as Real finished second in the league, also netting in the 4–0 Spanish Cup victory against Athletic Bilbao.^[1]

In 2005–06, with Castilla, Soldado scored 19 goals in the second division (two penalties) to become joint-second highest goalscorer, alongside Ciudad de Murcia's José Juan Luque, one goal behind Nigerian Ikechuwku Uche, of Recreativo de Huelva.

On July 24, 2006, Soldado officially became the first member of Real Madrid to leave under new manager Fabio Capello and new president Ramón Calderón. Soldado left on a one-season loan to fellow top flight club Osasuna. Set to score goals and return to Real Madrid as a better footballer, Soldado stated: "The idea is to leave and have a good season with a first division team scoring goals, and to develop as a footballer".^[2] Osasuna had finished fourth in the previous campaign, to earn themselves a place in the third qualifying round of the Champions League, hence Soldado chose them over a number of other Spanish clubs competing for his presence. "The following year I want to return to the Real first team. I chose Osasuna because it gives me the chance to play in the Champions League", Soldado said to Real Madrid's website after his signing. He would finish 2006–07 with a total of 14 goals, making him Osasuna's highest scorer, with 11 of those coming in the league.

Soldado returned to Real Madrid where, on July 11, 2007, he renewed his contract with the team until June 30, 2012.^[3] In a July 21 interview with Spanish newspaper Diario AS, Soldado revealed that he would be wearing number 9 shirt on this new Madrid stint. "During the preseason I'll be number 9, the number I've always dreamed of. When I step onto the pitch at the Bernabéu I'll remember all the hard work it took to get here".^[4] However, he would finish the season with just five league appearances (one start, at Deportivo de La Coruña), the second with fewer minutes for the league champions.

In late July 2008, Soldado was sold to Getafe CF for €4 millions, signing a four-year deal with the side from the Madrid outskirts,^[5] as former Real midfielder Esteban Granero in the previous week. He scored his first goal for the club on October 19, 2008, in a 1–2 loss at Málaga CF, adding two in another away defeat, with CA Osasuna (2–5), two months later. In between, he was sent off in a 0–3 home loss against Valencia, for head-butting Carlos Marchena.

On January 25, 2009, Soldado netted an hat-trick as an early substitute, in a 5–1 home win against Sporting de Gijón. On March 22, as Getafe struggled mightily in the league, he scored twice to secure another home triumph, 2–1 with Recreativo de Huelva. The following month, Soldado netted the opener against his first professional club, albeit in a 2–3 away defeat.

Soldado started 2009–10 in impressive fashion, putting three past Racing Santander, in a 4–1 away success. After a long scoring drought, he added three more against newly promoted Xerez CD, in a 5–1 home win.

[edit] International career

Soldado was called up for the first time by Spain for the Euro 2008 qualifiers against Latvia and Liechtenstein in June 2007, playing in both.^[6]

[edit] Honors and awards

[edit] Real Madrid

• Spanish League: 2007–08; Runner-up 2005–06
• Spanish Supercup: Runner-up 2007

[edit] Spain U19

• UEFA U-19 Championship: 2004

[edit] Individual

• Zarra Trophy (Second Division): 2005–06

[edit] References

1. ^ Real leaves it late
2. ^ Real's Soldado to join Osasuna
3. ^ Soldado inks new deal until 2012
4. ^ "They placed their faith in me and I'll return the favour with goals"
5. ^ Soldado set to seal Getafe switch; UEFA.com, 30 July 2008
6. ^ Soldado gets Spain's approval

[edit] External links

• BDFutbol profile
• National team data (Spanish)