Júlio Baptista
File:Baptista-brazil.jpg | |||
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Júlio César Baptista | ||
Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||
Position(s) |
Attacking Midfielder Centre Midfielder Second Striker | ||
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 16 July 2007 |
Júlio César Baptista (born 1 October 1981 in São Paulo) is a football player from Brazil. Nicknamed la Besta (the Beast) or the Tank, he plays as an attacking midfielder for Real Madrid.
Early career
Referred to as the "Beast of Sevilla" and even as the "Brazilian Steven Gerrard",[1] Júlio Baptista began his professional career in 2000 as a defensive midfielder with São Paulo F.C., before moving to Spanish club Sevilla FC in 2003. Between 2003 and 2005 he made 63 appearances and scored 38 goals for Sevilla, having switched position so that he operated further forward.
European career
On 29 July 2005, he signed a 5-year, €20 million (£13 million) deal with Real Madrid after a month of heated bidding from English Premier League clubs Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur. During the bidding, Baptista frequently cited his desire to remain in Spain at least through 2005 in order to qualify for a European passport which would provide him great flexibility in moving about the continent.
At Real Madrid, Baptista was often played out of position as a left-winger to accommodate the likes of Zinedine Zidane and Guti in the Spanish side's attacking line-up. Thus, his form dipped and he was left out of the Brazil squad for the 2006 World Cup.
At the end of August 2006, with the transfer window about to close, press reports linked him with a move to either Tottenham Hotspur or Arsenal, with the latter possibly as part of a swap deal including José Antonio Reyes. Baptista himself had strenuously claimed that he was not interested in a move away from Real Madrid. However, on 31 August2006, the day of the transfer deadline, Baptista moved to Arsenal in exchange for José Antonio Reyes, the deal involved the two players swapping clubs on 12 month loan deals.[2]. Although he has now moved back to Real Madrid as Arsenal chose not to sign him on a permanent transfer and at this point in time it is unknown whether he will again play for Real Madrid or be sold on.
National team
Baptista has 25 caps with Brazil, and has netted six goals. His first cap came on 4 June 2001 in a 0-0 draw against Japan in the 2001 Confederations Cup, and he also played a limited part in the 2005 edition. After he was not included on the 2006 World Cup roster, Baptista was re-called to the Brazil squad for the 2007 Copa America and scored the opening goal in Brazil's 3-0 victory over Argentina in the Final on July 15, 2007. Baptista ended the competition with 3 goals.
Honours
- Campeonato Paulista: 2000
- São Paulo Cup (under 20s): 2000
- Rio–São Paulo Tournament: 2001
- São Paulo State Super-Championship: 2002
- Copa América: 2004, 2007
- FIFA Confederations Cup: 2005
Career statistics
Club | Season | League | Cup[3] | Europe | Total | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Apps | Goals | Assists | Apps | Goals | Assists | Apps | Goals | Assists | Apps | Goals | Assists | ||
Sevilla FC | 2003-04 | 30 | 20 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 30 | 20 | - |
2004-05 | 31 | 18 | - | - | - | - | 7 | 4 | - | 38 | 22 | - | |
Real Madrid | 2005-06 | 32 | 8 | - | - | - | - | 7 | 0 | - | 39 | 8 | - |
Arsenal | 2006-07 | 24 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 35 | 10 | 3 |
Career totals | 142 | 60 | 3 |
Quotes
- "Technically, he brings the quality of a Brazilian player but he also brings his personality: he is very strong, very strong-willed. He is a winner, He can defend, he can attack and he can score goals and this is very important." —Dunga[4]
References
- ^ "Wenger has last word". http://www.telegraph.co.uk.
{{cite web}}
: External link in
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- ^ "José Antonio Reyes, new Real Madrid player". realmadrid.com.
- ^ Includes FA Cup, League Cup and FA Community Shield
- ^ "Baptista ready to commit future to Gunners". Yahoo Sports.
External links
- Arsenal.com profile
- Júlio Baptista at Soccerbase
- Júlio Baptista player information, honours, detailed career stats and timeline
- Profile - SambaFoot.com