Pablo Piatti

Pablo Daniel Piatti (born 31 March 1989) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays for Canadian club Toronto FC. He operates mainly as a left winger, but can also play as a forward.[2]

Pablo Piatti
Piatti playing for Espanyol in 2019
Personal information
Full name Pablo Daniel Piatti
Date of birth (1989-03-31) 31 March 1989[1]
Place of birth Ucacha, Argentina
Height 1.64 m (5 ft 5 in)[1]
Playing position(s) Winger
Club information
Current team
 Toronto FC
Number 7
Youth career
2002–2003 Jorge Newbery
2003–2006 Estudiantes
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2006–2008 Estudiantes 49 (12)
2008–2011 Almería 101 (20)
2011–2017 Valencia 110 (15)
2016–2017 → Espanyol (loan) 30 (10)
2017–2020 Espanyol 53 (3)
2020– Toronto FC 4 (0)
National team
2007 Argentina U20 6 (0)
2011 Argentina 1 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 27 July 2020

He spent the vast majority of his career in Spain after starting out at Estudiantes, appearing in 294 La Liga matches over 12 seasons and scoring a combined 48 goals for Almería, Valencia and Espanyol.

Piatti won one full cap for Argentina, in 2011.

Club career

Estudiantes

Born in Ucacha, Córdoba, Piatti was a product of Estudiantes de La Plata's youth ranks. He made the headlines when coach Diego Simeone gave him his first opportunity against Newell's Old Boys on 18 November 2006, as the player was just 17. He scored the winning goal (2–1) deep into injury time, and became one of the heroes of Estudiantes' championship-winning team.[3]

Piatti made the side's starting eleven in the 2007 Clausura tournament, alongside José Luis Calderón, José Sosa, and Juan Sebastián Verón.

Almería

After making 60 appearances in all competitions for Estudiantes in two years, Piatti was sold to UD Almería in Spain for an undisclosed fee believed to be in the region of €7 million.[4][5] Initially an undisputed starter, notably netting in a 1–1 home draw against Real Madrid,[6] he struggled after the arrival, midway through his first season, of Mexican coach Hugo Sánchez.

In the 2009–10 campaign, without the presence of striker Álvaro Negredo, Piatti was much more depended upon in scoring matters and netted seven times in 35 matches, joint-second in the team as they finished in 13th position.[7] On 23 September 2009 he opened and closed the scoresheet in a 2–2 draw at Atlético Madrid[8] and, in the second La Liga match between the two teams, netted a last-minute winner (1–0).[9]

Valencia

On 5 July 2011, Almería and Valencia CF reached an agreement for the transfer of Piatti, with the player signing a five-year contract for a fee of €7.5 million.[10][11] He struggled to reproduce his previous form during most of his first season with the Che, but did feature in 47 matches all competitions comprised.[12]

Piatti scored his first official goal for Valencia on 19 January 2012, netting the 3–1 in the 45th minute of an eventual 4–1 home win against Levante UD in the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey.[13] He added another two in the second leg (3–0).[14]

After Jordi Alba and Jérémy Mathieu developed an efficient left-wing partnership, Piatti was used inconsistenly by managers Mauricio Pellegrino, Ernesto Valverde and Miroslav Đukić, also struggling with some injury problems.[12] After being transferlisted against his will by the latter in the summer of 2013,[12] he was subsequently linked to clubs like Everton, Celtic, Southampton and Stade Rennais FC,[15] but refused to leave Spain.

After the dismissal of Đukić due to poor results, however, new boss Juan Antonio Pizzi showed faith in his compatriot Piatti, who repaid the former's confidence by finishing 2013–14 with five league goals from 17 appearances, one of those coming in a 3–2 win at FC Barcelona.[16][17]

Following the purchase of the club by businessman Peter Lim,[18] Piatti continued being a key player under Nuno Espírito Santo, being dubbed Pablito by the manager.[19][20][12]

Espanyol

On 16 July 2016, Piatti was loaned to RCD Espanyol for one year, with a buyout clause.[21] The following 24 May, after scoring a career-best ten goals to help his team to the eighth position, he signed a permanent three-year deal with the club.[22]

In February 2019, during a home match against Rayo Vallecano, Piatti suffered an injury to both his right knee's anterior cruciate and internal lateral ligaments, going on to be sidelined for several months.[23]

Toronto FC

In February 2020, Piatti moved to Toronto FC in Major League Soccer, signing as a Designated Player.[24] Later that month, however, he was ruled out of the opening of the season after picking up a hamstring strain in training.[25]

International career

Shortly after making his senior debut for Estudiantes, Piatti was part of the Argentina squad that won the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Canada. The youngest player in the roster, he managed to play six of seven games.[26][27]

On 5 June 2011, Piatti made his debut for the senior side, as national team boss Sergio Batista handed him a start in a 1–2 friendly loss with Poland.[28]

Style of play

A talented, skilful and diminutive player with an eye for goal, Piatti is capable of contributing to his team's offensive play by both scoring and assisting goals; moreover, he can shoot with either foot, despite being naturally left–footed. Normally a winger, he is also able to play as a forward, but he has even been deployed in a deeper, more creative role, behind the main striker. He usually plays on the left side of the pitch, although he can also play on the right flank. A dynamic, explosive and fleet–footed attacker, he is known for his turn of pace, which along with his dribbling technique enables him to get past opponents and make runs into the penalty area. Regarded as a promising player in his youth, his playing style was initially likened to that of compatriot Lionel Messi.[29][30][31][32][33][34]

Career statistics

Club
As of 16 July 2020[35]
Club Season League Cup Continental Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Estudiantes 2006–07 1750000175
2007–08 32800100428
Total 4913001005913
Almería 2008–09 31521—336
2009–10 35710—367
2010–11 35862—4110
Total 10120930011023
Valencia 2011–12 30273101476
2012–13 1413020191
2013–14 1753092297
2014–15 28720—307
2015–16 21061101372
Total 1101521431416223
Espanyol (loan) 2016–17 301010—3110
Espanyol 2017–18 30210—312
2018–19 20161—262
2019–20 30202070
Total 8313101209514
Toronto FC 2020 2[lower-alpha 1]000—20
Total 20000020
Career total 3456140843442873
  1. Includes two appearances in the MLS is Back Tournament group stage.

International
As of 5 June 2011[35]
Argentina
YearAppsGoals
201110
Total10

Honours

Club

Estudiantes

International

Argentina U-20

Individual

References
  1. "Pablo Piatti". Eurosport. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  2. McMahon, Bobby (18 July 2007). "FIFA Under-20 World Cup, Chile vs. Argentina – Semi Final Preview". Fox Sports. Archived from the original on 2 March 2008. Retrieved 2 December 2007.
  3. "A 12 años del memorable campeón del Apertura 2006" [12-year anniversary of the memorable Apertura 2006 champions] (in Spanish). Estudiantes LP. 13 December 2018. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  4. Heredia, Juan A. (22 May 2008). "El Almería se hace con Piatti, el nuevo Messi" [Almería get Piatti, the new Messi]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  5. Mira, Luís (18 June 2008). "Almeria win Piatti race". Goal. Retrieved 12 April 2011.
  6. "El conformismo del Madrid le pasa factura en Almería (1–1)" [Madrid's conformity takes a toll in Almería (1–1)]. 20 minutos (in Spanish). 2 November 2008. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  7. Gregorio, Paco (13 May 2010). "Kalu Uche y el trío Soriano-Crusat-Piatti, la clave del gol" [Kalu Uche and the trio Soriano-Crusat-Piatti, the key to goal]. Diario de Almería (in Spanish). Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  8. "Piatti leaves it late for Almeria". ESPN Soccernet. 23 September 2009. Retrieved 11 May 2011.
  9. "Almeria burst Atletico bubble". ESPN Soccernet. 21 February 2010. Retrieved 11 May 2011.
  10. Al-Taie, Omar (5 July 2011). "Valencia reach agreement for Piatti". VCF Central. Archived from the original on 9 July 2011. Retrieved 5 July 2011.
  11. Pérez, Javier (6 July 2011). "El Valencia ficha a Piatti" [Valencia sign Piatti]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  12. Villa Castilla, Pablo (6 August 2015). "Pablo Piatti renueva hasta el año 2019" [Pablo Piatti renews until the year 2019] (in Spanish). Vavel. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  13. Melero, Delfín (19 January 2012). "El Valencia ahoga al Levante" [Valencia drown Levante]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 26 January 2012.
  14. Rincón, Jaime (26 January 2012). "Para Piatti no fue un trámite" [Not just another game for Piatti]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 26 January 2012.
  15. Jones, Simon (25 August 2013). "Pochettino targets Valencia's tiny winger Piatti on season-long loan". Daily Mail. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
  16. "Barcelona 2–3 Valencia". BBC Sport. 1 February 2014. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
  17. "Pablo Piatti: ´Nunca dejé de confiar en mis condiciones´" [Pablo Piatti: ´I never stopped believing in myself´]. Super Deporte (in Spanish). 11 February 2014. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
  18. Meng Meng, Wang (28 October 2014). "Football: Singaporean billionaire Peter Lim gets rousing welcome in Valencia". The Straits Times. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
  19. "The resurgence of Valencia CF". Foot and Ball. 21 January 2015. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
  20. Yokhin, Michael (13 February 2015). "Pablo Piatti back from the shadows after enjoying Valencia renaissance". Sport 360. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
  21. "Piatti, nou jugador de l'Espanyol" [Piatti, new player of Espanyol] (in Catalan). RCD Espanyol. 16 July 2016. Retrieved 16 July 2016.
  22. "Pablo Piatti signs permanent deal with Espanyol". beIN Sports. 24 May 2017. Retrieved 24 May 2017.
  23. "El RCD Espanyol confirma la grave lesión de Piatti" [RCD Espanyol confirm Piatti's serious injury]. Sport (in Spanish). 10 February 2019. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  24. "Toronto FC signs Pablo Piatti as Designated Player". Toronto FC. 7 February 2020. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
  25. "Toronto FC's Argentine winger Pablo Piatti sidelined by strained hamstring". Toronto Star. 22 February 2020. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  26. "¿Qué es de la vida de los campeones Sub 20 en 2007?" [What happened to the Under 20 champions in 2007?]. Olé (in Spanish). 22 July 2019. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  27. Pablo Piatti – FIFA competition record
  28. "Second-string Argentina humbled again". ESPN Soccernet. 5 June 2011. Retrieved 17 June 2011.
  29. Hayward, Ben (7 July 2011). "He's not the 'new Lionel Messi', but a very talented boy – why Valencia's signing of Pablo Piatti could be a masterstroke". Goal. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  30. "Sky Sports scout – Pablo Piatti". Sky Sports. 21 May 2014. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  31. "World Soccer 500". World Soccer. 27 March 2015. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  32. "Report: Toronto FC assessing Piatti". The Sports Network. 5 February 2020. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  33. Davidson, Neil (7 February 2020). "Toronto FC signs veteran Argentine winger Pablo Piatti as third designated player". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  34. Murray, Caitlin (7 February 2020). "Toronto FC's new designated player is Pablo Piatti from La Liga's Espanyol". Pro Soccer USA. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  35. "P. Piatti". Soccerway. Retrieved 4 April 2014.
  36. "Once ideal de LaLiga para UEFA: 4 del Madrid, 3 del Barça..." [UEFA's LaLiga All-Star XI: 4 from Madrid, 3 from Barça...]. Diario AS (in Spanish). 22 May 2017. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
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