Xisco Nadal

Francisco Sebastián Nadal Martorell (born 27 June 1986), commonly known as Xisco Nadal, is a Spanish former footballer who played mainly as a forward.

Not to be confused with Xisco (footballer, born 1980) or Xisco (footballer, born 1986).
This article uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Nadal and the second or maternal family name is Martorell.

Xisco Nadal
Nadal on the ball for Levante in 2011
Personal information
Full name Francisco Sebastián Nadal Martorell
Date of birth (1986-06-27) 27 June 1986
Place of birth Palma, Spain
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Playing position(s) Forward / Winger
Youth career
2001–2003 Villarreal
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2003–2008 Villarreal B
2003–2007 Villarreal 20 (3)
2004 → Numancia (loan) 15 (1)
2005 → Murcia (loan) 0 (0)
2006–2007 → Hércules (loan) 16 (0)
2008 Granada 74 16 (1)
2008–2011 Levante 90 (6)
2011–2014 Alqueries
2014–2015 Vinaròs 13 (2)
2015–2016 Segorbe
2016–2018 Roda 15 (2)
National team
2002–2003 Spain U17 13 (4)
2004 Spain U19 1 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Club career

Born in Palma, Majorca, Balearic Islands, Nadal moved to Villarreal as a baby when his father Sebastián, also a footballer, joined Villarreal CF.[1] He himself made his official debut for the same club against CA Osasuna, on 2 February 2003. On 15 June, playing at RCD Espanyol in a 2–2 draw, he became the youngest player ever to score in a La Liga match, aged 16 years, 11 months and 18 days;[2] he also appeared in four UEFA Cup and one Champions League games for the club.

However, Nadal was not used very often at Villarreal, and served Segunda División loans to CD Numancia[3] and Real Murcia in the second halves of 2003–04 and 2004–05, respectively. He spent the entire 2006–07 season at Hércules CF of the same level,[4] and only made a combined 31 league appearances between the three teams.

In January 2008, Nadal lost all ties to Villarreal and joined newly created side Granada 74 CF, in division two.[5] Upon their relegation he moved again, signing a two-year contract with Levante UD.

Although rarely a starter in 2009–10, Nadal contributed with three goals in 32 matches as the Valencians returned to the top division after a two-year absence. In the following campaign, in which he was used almost exclusively as a winger, he went scoreless in 25 games in an eventual escape from relegation; on 15 May 2011, he was sent off for a late challenge on Roberto Soldado in a 0–0 away draw against Valencia CF which certified the team's permanence.[6]

On 11 September 2011, 25-year-old Nadal signed a short-term contract with Alqueries CF in the Valencian regional divisions.[7]

International career

Nadal was part of Spain's under-17 squad which finished as runners-up at the 2003 UEFA European Championship. In the same year he also played in the category's FIFA World Cup, with the nation losing in the final to Brazil.

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References
  1. "Pau Torres, primer futbolista nacido en Vila-real que debuta en 13 años" [Pau Torres, firs footballer born in Villarreal to debut in 13 years]. Sport (in Spanish). 22 December 2019. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  2. Despedida con empate (Farewell with draw); Mundo Deportivo, 16 June 2003 (in Spanish)
  3. Breve enciclopedia numantina (Brief numantina encyclopedia); Desde Soria, 29 May 2013 (in Spanish)
  4. Piti se va al Rayo y Xisco regresará al Villarreal B (Piti goes to Rayo and Xisco returns to Villarreal B); Diario AS, 1 May 2007 (in Spanish)
  5. Villarreal bring in Eguren; UEFA, 31 January 2008
  6. Los Che secure third spot; ESPN Soccernet, 15 May 2011
  7. Xisco Nadal, de Primera división a la Regional Preferente (Xisco Nadal, from First division to Regional Preferente); Marca, 12 September 2011 (in Spanish)
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