Place of birth Juan Lacaze, Uruguay Number 10 Name Cristian Rodriguez Height 1.77 m Career start 2002 | Playing position Years Team Role Footballer Weight 72 kg | |
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Full name Cristian Gabriel Rodriguez Barotti Date of birth (1985-09-30) 30 September 1985 (age 30) Current teams Uruguay national football team (Midfielder), Club Atletico Independiente (#10 / Midfielder) Similar People Alvaro Pereira, Diego Godin, Jose Gimenez, Diego Simeone Profiles | ||
Cristian RODRIGUEZ (Uruguay) - Post Match Interview - MATCH 18
Cristian Gabriel Rodriguez Barotti ([ˈkɾistjan roˈðɾiɣes]; born 30 September 1985), known as Cristian Rodriguez, is a Uruguayan professional footballer who plays for Club Atletico Independiente in Argentina and the Uruguay national team, as a left winger.
Contents
- Cristian RODRIGUEZ Uruguay Post Match Interview MATCH 18
- Penarol Paris Saint Germain
- Porto
- Atletico Madrid
- Independiente
- International career
- International goals
- Club statistics
- Club
- Country
- References
Having received the nickname Cebolla (onion) from his Penarol days, from his father, and also because he smelled nicely when he sweat, he is well known for his speed and technical ability. He also played several seasons in Portugal, with Benfica and Porto.
Rodriguez gained more than 90 caps for Uruguay, representing the country at the 2014 World Cup and four Copa America tournaments.
Penarol / Paris Saint-Germain
Born in Juan Lacaze, Rodriguez started playing professionally, still a youngster, for local C.A. Penarol in the Uruguayan first division, where he helped the side to the 2003 title. After an injury ruled him out for some games in late 2004, he was spotted by television cameras jumping in the stands alongside club supporters, but he eventually escaped a fine or suspension.
In 2005, Rodriguez was transferred to French club Paris Saint-Germain F.C. on a free transfer, along with Carlos Bueno. After appearing scarcely in his first season in Ligue 1, he was important in helping the capital team barely avoid relegation, scoring his only goal in a 4–2 home win against AS Monaco FC.
Porto
In late August 2007 Rodriguez moved to Portugal's S.L. Benfica in a season-long loan, together with countryman Maxi Pereira, who was bought from Defensor Sporting. After being one of the Eagles' most important players through 2007–08, he was bought by fellow Primeira Liga side FC Porto in June 2008(but part of the transfer fee was paid to Play International B.V.). During the two team's match in Lisbon on 30 August 2008, he was subjected to vitriolic abuse from the stands, in a 1–1 final draw; nonetheless he eventually settled at the new club, forming an attacking trio with Argentine Lisandro Lopez and Brazilian Hulk, also scoring some goals through unsuspecting headers.
After Silvestre Varela was bought by Porto in the 2009 off-season, Rodriguez was relegated to a substitute role, but still appeared in 32 official games in the 2010–11 season (two goals, including one in 11 matches in the club's victorious campaign in the UEFA Europa League).
On 17 February 2014, Rodriguez was condemned to pay a €45,000 fine for beating two stewards at the Estadio da Luz, following a tunnel brawl during the 0–1 away league loss against Benfica on 20 December 2009.
Atletico Madrid
On 28 May 2012 Rodriguez signed for Atletico Madrid for four seasons, after being released by Porto. He scored his first two goals for his new club in the Europa League group stage, against Hapoel Tel Aviv FC (3–0 away win) and FC Viktoria Plzen (home); in the latter he netted the game's only goal through a thunderous left-foot shot in the 93rd minute.
On 20 January 2015, Rodriguez moved to Parma F.C. until the end of the season. Less than two months later, however, due to the Italian club's precarious financial situation, he joined Brazil's Gremio Foot-Ball Porto Alegrense also on loan.
Rodriguez left Gremio on 8 May, after struggling with injuries and acting in less than 80 minutes for the club.
Independiente
On 24 July 2015, Rodriguez signed for Club Atletico Independiente for two seasons after being released by Atletico Madrid.
International career
Rodriguez made his Uruguayan national team debut at age 18 in a friendly against Mexico, and went on to represent the nation in two Copa America tournaments, scoring in the 2007 edition in a 4–1 win over Venezuela, the host.
After assaulting Argentina's Gabriel Heinze during the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying stage (0–1 home loss), he received a four-match ban, and national team coach Oscar Tabarez opted to not select him for the final stages in South Africa.
Rodriguez was included in the 2015 Copa America squad, scoring the only goal in the tournament opener against Jamaica in Antofagasta.