| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Damián Rodrigo Díaz | ||
| Date of birth | 1 May 1986 | ||
| Place of birth | Rosario, Argentina | ||
| Height | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) | ||
| Playing position | Attacking midfielder | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Barcelona SC | ||
| Number | 10 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1998–2007 | Rosario Central | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2007–2008 | Rosario Central | 38 | (6) |
| 2008 | Boca Juniors | 7 | (0) |
| 2009–2010 | → Universidad Católica (loan) | 41 | (15) |
| 2010–2011 | → Colón (loan) | 36 | (6) |
| 2011– | Barcelona SC | 8 | (5) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 12 September 2011. † Appearances (Goals). |
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Damián Rodrigo Díaz (born 1 May 1986 in Rosario, Santa Fe) is an Argentine footballer, who currently plays for the Ecuadorian club Barcelona Sporting Club as a attacking midfielder or usually as playmaker.
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Díaz started his career in Rosario Central's famous youth academy. Following the passes of Argentine elite players like José María Buljubasich, Roberto Abbondanzieri, Kily González, Ángel di María, among others, signing for Rosario as a 20-year-old.
His first professional appearances were very promising, because to his two goals in his first two games against Godoy Cruz and Nueva Chicago. The coach of the team Carlos Ischia, saw in Díaz a great share of talent, which meant to Díaz be seriously considered in the staring lineup. After a successful 2007–08 season with a total of 4 goals in 25 games, Díaz was transferred to Boca Juniors, following the passes of his coach Carlos Ischia, who also left Rosario Central for Boca.
After his successful incorporation to Boca, Díaz debuted in a 4–0 win over LDU Quito for the 2008 Copa Sudamericana. At the club of La Boca district won his first professional title, but never played during the tournament with the team. In January 2009, after of refuse go on loan to the Greek club Aris, he was part of the pre-season in where the team played a friendly tournament called Torneo de Verano (Summer Tournament). During that tournament, Díaz played a good role in the team, being a key player in the coach's scheme. Finally, he made his official debut in a 3–1 win over Huracán during the fourth week of the 2009 Clausura Tournament.
In June 2009, Universidad Católica announced that they had reached an agreement with Boca Juniors over the transfer of Díaz and that he would join the club on a one-year deal. On 3 July, the Pre-cordilleran side completed the signing and Díaz was awarded the number 15 shirt. Díaz arrived as part of the transfer operation of Gary Medel to his former club Boca Juniors, in a loan barter without purchase option.
Díaz made his Chilean Primera División début on 27 July 2009, in a 2–0 win over Deportes La Serena at San Carlos de Apoquindo.[1] He scored his first two goals for the club on 23 August, both in a single match against Cobreloa, in where Católica won 2–0 thanks to the goals of Díaz.[2] One month later, he scored his first hat-trick in his career in Católica's 7-0 thrashing of Curicó Unido,[3] should be noted that one of his three goals was olympic.[4] Díaz also scored in the following week against Audax Italiano, match that was won 4–0 by Católica.[5] In that season, Damián was fully consolidated in the position of playmaker at the scheme of Católica's coach, Marco Antonio Figueroa. He was also paired in attack with Juan José Morales and Milovan Mirosevic. The team reached the final against Colo-Colo, but lost 6–4 on aggregate. Following his debut season in the Chilean Primera División, Díaz emerged as one of the leagues finest playmakers.
Díaz began the 2010 season in fine form, scoring the first goal in Católica's 4–0 thrashing of Santiago Morning.[6] In that season, he was playing of great form, but had too much lack of scoring. On 27 March, Díaz scored his second goal in the tournament against Santiago Wanderers in a 4–2 win, which ended a run of 239 minutes of football without a goal. On 14 April, Kitu scored his first goal in the Copa Libertadores, in a 2–0 home win over Flamengo. Due to his successful at Chile, the club of his country Colón de Santa Fe showed interest on him and also came up the possibility of return to Boca Juniors, one of the big teams of Argentina and South America. Despite of the possibility of play in Argentina, one of the best leagues in the world, Díaz was consistent and extended his scoring streak against Ñublense in a game that was won by Católica 4–2, and he was named the man of the match.
Finally, during the break of the league (because it was a long tournament of one year and was played the 2010 FIFA World Cup at South Africa) everything seemed be that Diaz would remain at Católica, but then the player reached an agreement with the club that attempted to sign him Colón and left the club.
On 11 June 2010, Colón de Santa Fe signed him for one year, on loan from Boca Juniors.
On 11 June 2011, Diaz signed with the Ecuadorian giants Barcelona.[7]
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