 Pereira in action for Porto in 2010 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Álvaro Daniel Pereira Barragán | ||
| Date of birth | 28 November 1985 | ||
| Place of birth | Montevideo, Uruguay | ||
| Height | 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||
| Playing position | Wingback | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Internazionale | ||
| Number | 31 | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2003–2004 | Miramar Misiones | 32 | (1) |
| 2005–2007 | Quilmes | 34 | (0) |
| 2007–2008 | Argentinos Juniors | 35 | (11) |
| 2008–2009 | CFR Cluj | 29 | (1) |
| 2009–2012 | Porto | 72 | (2) |
| 2012– | Internazionale | 28 | (1) |
| National team‡ | |||
| 2008– | Uruguay | 52 | (5) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 19 May 2013.
† Appearances (Goals).
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 17:43, 30 June 2013 (UTC) | |||
Álvaro Daniel Pereira Barragán (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈalβaɾo peˈɾeiɾa]; born 28 November 1985) is aUruguayan professional footballer who plays for Internazionale in Italy. On the left side, he can play as either a defender or midfielder.
Club career
Early years
Born in Montevideo, Pereira started his career with Miramar Misiones in 2003, moving to Argentina withQuilmes Atlético Club two years later. After the club's relegation from the first division at the end of the2006–07 season, he moved to Argentinos Juniors.
In the summer of 2008 Pereira signed with Romania's CFR Cluj, moving for €2.5 million. He started in all the club's matches in its valiant debut campaign in the UEFA Champions League.
Porto
Pereira joined Futebol Clube do Porto on 4 June 2009 for €4.5 million,[1] with the Portuguese acquiring 80% of the player's rights. In his first year he mostly operated as a left back, as the northerners finished third and won the domestic cup. He scored his first goal for the club on 21 February 2010, netting the second in a 5–1 home thrashing of S.C. Braga.[2]
In Pereira's second season at the Estádio do Dragão, he featured in 21 league games (all starts), adding 12 UEFA Europa League appearances as Porto won the treble. He also started in the campaign'sPortuguese Cup final against Vitória de Guimarães on 22 May 2011, scoring an own goal in the 21st minute to bring the sides level, in an eventual 6–2 triumph.[3]
After Porto rejected an offer from Premier League side Chelsea in the summer for Pereira's services, he signed a new contract on 3 October 2011 running until 2016, with his release clause remaining at £25.7 million.[4] In late December that year he heavily criticised Manchester United's Patrice Evra for accusing Pereira's national team colleague Luis Suárez of racial abuse; including a claim from Evra that Suárez said he "doesn't speak to black players" such as Pereira, who defended Suárez and stated that "what happens on the pitch stays on the pitch", adding that the French would have to "wear body armour" if the players' future international friendly was to take place immediately instead of in late 2012.[5][6]
Inter
Pereira signed for Internazionale in late August 2012 for €10 million, reuniting with former Porto teammate Fredy Guarín.[7][8]
International career
Pereira made his debut for Uruguay against France, on 19 November 2008.[9] He scored his first international goal in his next match, another friendly, againstLibya in Tripoli (3–2 win).[10]
Pereira was an undisputed starter for the nation during the second half of the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, also starting in both legs of the successful playoffs against Costa Rica as the Charrúas returned to the FIFA World Cup. In the finals in South Africa, he played in all the matches except two, scoring through a rare header in a 3–0 group stage win against the hosts.[11]
Pereira was selected to the 2011 Copa América in Argentina, being first-choice and scoring two goals in the group stage, including the game's only againstMexico,[12] as Uruguay won its 15th continental tournament.[13]
International goals
Honours
Club
- CFR Cluj
- FC Porto
- UEFA Europa League: 2010–11
- Primeira Liga: 2010–11, 2011–12
- Taça de Portugal: 2009–10, 2010–11
- Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira: 2009, 2010, 2011
- UEFA Super Cup: Runner-up 2011
- Taça da Liga: Runner-up 2009–10
