| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Gonzalo Rubén Bergessio | ||
| Date of birth | July 20, 1984 | ||
| Place of birth | Córdoba, Argentina | ||
| Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||
| Playing position | Striker | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Catania | ||
| Number | 18 | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2000–2003 | Platense | 90 | (28) |
| 2003–2005 | Instituto | 37 | (6) |
| 2005–2007 | Racing Avellaneda | 35 | (12) |
| 2007 | Benfica | 3 | (0) |
| 2008–2009 | San Lorenzo | 48 | (29) |
| 2009–2011 | Saint-Étienne | 47 | (5) |
| 2011 | → Catania (loan) | 13 | (5) |
| 2011– | Catania | 10 | (3) |
| National team‡ | |||
| 2008– | Argentina | 3 | (2) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 27 November 2011. † Appearances (Goals). |
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Gonzalo Rubén Bergessio (born 20 July 1984 in Córdoba, Córdoba Province) is an Argentine footballer who plays for Calcio Catania in Serie A, as a striker.
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Bergessio started his career in the lower leagues with Club Atlético Platense. In 2005, he was signed by Instituto Atlético Central Córdoba of the top level, but at the end of the 2005–06 season Instituto were relegated, and the player was sold to Racing Club de Avellaneda.
During the Apertura 2006, Bergessio contributed with six goals, and in the following year's Clausura, continued to score on a regular basis. His fast pace earned him a big following at the Estadio Juan Domingo Perón, and he became a fan favourite after scoring the game winner against giants Boca Juniors, adding another against Club Atlético River Plate.
On 26 June 2007, Bergessio signed a five-year €2.5m deal with Portuguese league powerhouse Sport Lisboa e Benfica.[1] However, he only appeared in three league contests, one less than his UEFA Champions League opportunities and, in January of the following year, he returned to his country.
In January 2008, Bergessio returned to Argentina, to play with Club Atlético San Lorenzo de Almagro. On 8 May, he was involved in the Libertadores Cup tie against River where, after San Lorenzo had two players sent off and were 2–0 down, he scored twice to give his team an improbable victory on aggregate.[2]
On 24 August 2009, Bergessio returned to Europe, signing with France's AS Saint-Étienne for an undisclosed fee, on a four-year contract.[3] He scored his first goal for his new club during his second appearance, a 1–1 home draw against AJ Auxerre, but netted just five times more in his first one 1/2 seasons with the Ligue 1 outfit.
In the last hours of the 2011 winter transfer window, Bergessio joined Italian team Calcio Catania, arriving on loan for the remainder of 2010–11. The Sicilians had the option to sign him player permanently at the conclusion of this loan agreement.[4] He made his Serie A debut on 20 February, playing the full 90 minutes and being booked in a 0–1 away loss against S.S.C. Napoli.
After an initial delay in the transfer, Bergessio signed with Catania permanently on 20 August 2011 after a successful loan spell, for an undisclosed fee.[5]
Bergessio made his international debut on 15 October 2008, playing the second half of a 0–1 loss in Chile, in the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
He scored his first two international goals on 20 May 2009 in a 3–1 win over Panama.
| Goal | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 20 May 2009 | Estadio Brigadier General Estanislao López, Santa Fe, Argentina | Panama | 2–1 | 3–1 | Friendly |
| 1 | 20 May 2009 | Estadio Brigadier General Estanislao López, Santa Fe, Argentina | Panama | 3–1 | 3–1 | Friendly |
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