Full name Rubén Rochina Naixes Playing position 2003–2004 Valencia Weight 76 kg | Place of birth Sagunto, Spain Number 21 Height 1.79 m Career start 2008 | |
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Date of birth (1991-03-23) 23 March 1991 (age 26) Current team FC Rubin Kazan (#21 / Midfielder, Forward) Similar Youssef El‑Arabi, Fran Rico, Jonathas de Jesus, Rubén Pérez del Mármol, David Lombán Profiles | ||
Rubén Rochina Naixes (born 23 March 1991) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for Russian club FC Rubin Kazan as a winger or a forward.
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Rochina began his professional career with Barcelona B before joining Blackburn Rovers in 2011, spending three years with the club that included two loan spells, at Zaragoza and Rayo Vallecano.
Barcelona
Born in Sagunto, Valencian Community, Rochina arrived at FC Barcelona's youth system at the age of 13, after starting his development with local Valencia CF.
Whilst still a junior, he appeared in 13 games for Barcelona's reserves in Segunda División B, playing three times (117 minutes) in the 2009–10 season as Luis Enrique's side returned to the Segunda División after an 11-year absence.
Blackburn Rovers
On 31 January 2011, without having appeared for Barcelona's first team, Rochina joined Premier League team Blackburn Rovers on a four-year deal. On 11 February he scored twice for the reserves against Newcastle United's reserves, in a 4–4 draw.
On 16 April 2011, Rochina made his league debut for his new club, starting in a 2–0 away loss against Everton. On 24 August he scored his first competitive goal for Rovers, just five minutes into the League Cup match against Sheffield Wednesday, and added a second in a 3–1 home win.
Rochina scored his first league goal for Blackburn on 11 September, in a 1–1 away draw against Fulham. In the next game he provided an assist in a 4–3 home victory over Arsenal, and appeared in 18 matches during the campaign as the team was relegated.
On 1 September 2012, Rochina scored a back-heeled goal to equalise six minutes from time in a 3–3 draw at Leeds United. He spent the second half of the campaign on loan at Real Zaragoza. He made his La Liga debut on 3 February 2013 as a 74th-minute substitute in a 1–1 away draw with Málaga CF, and scored his first goal in the competition on 27 April to help defeat RCD Mallorca 3–2 at La Romareda, as the Aragonese eventually suffered relegation after finishing bottom.
On the opening day of the 2013–14 Championship season, Rochina dislocated his shoulder during the fixture against Derby County. After surgery, he missed the next three months of the campaign, and on 20 January 2014 he returned to the Spanish top flight on loan, this time to Rayo Vallecano. His first appearance came six days later, in a 4–2 home loss to Atlético Madrid in which he played 34 minutes.
Granada
On 3 August 2014, Rochina signed a four-year deal with Granada CF for an undisclosed fee. He scored two goals in his first year, the second being a 50-meter lob in a 3–0 away win over Real Sociedad.
Rochina netted six times in 2015–16 as Los Nazaríes again avoided relegation, including a late equaliser for a 2–2 draw in the Derby of eastern Andalusia away to Málaga CF on 28 November 2015.
Rubin Kazan
On 20 July 2016, Rochina moved abroad for a second time when Russian Premier League side FC Rubin Kazan triggered his €10 million release clause and offered to treble his wages. Blackburn were due 15% of the receipt.
International career
Rochina was capped for Spain at under-17, under-18 and under-19 levels, for a total of 17 caps and eight goals.