.jpg) Gargano in training for Napoli in 2009 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Walter Alejandro Gargano Guevara | ||
| Date of birth | 23 July 1984 | ||
| Place of birth | Paysandú, Uruguay | ||
| Height | 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in) | ||
| Playing position | Defensive Midfielder | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Parma (on loan from Napoli) | ||
| Number | 5 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Danubio | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2003–2007 | Danubio | 102 | (3) |
| 2007– | Napoli | 165 | (4) |
| 2012–2013 | → Internazionale (loan) | 28 | (0) |
| 2013– | → Parma (loan) | 3 | (1) |
| National team‡ | |||
| 2006– | Uruguay | 60 | (1) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 21 June 2013.
† Appearances (Goals).
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 16:07, 30 June 2013 (UTC) | |||
Walter Alejandro Gargano Guevara (born 23 July 1984) is a Uruguayan footballer who plays as amidfielder for Serie A club Parma on loan from Napoli and the Uruguayan national team.
Club career
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Gargano started playing football at age of three and joined youth club, now defunct, Centella in Paysandú. In the youth club, he was in the midfield position. While in the youth, Gargano played against his future club Danubio, where he was soon discovered by the club and joined them.
Danubio
Gargano started his professional career with Danubio in 2003 and made his league debut at age of nineteen. He won two national titles with Danubio (2004 (which was his first season winning it) and2006/07). Gargano made 102 appearance and scored three times and was a regular player in the first team.[1]
Napoli
On 30 June 2007, Gargano agreed a transfer from Uruguayan clubDanubio, to newly promoted Napoli for a fee of £2m.[2] He signed a 5-year contract.[3] He made his first appearance for the club in a 4–0 win over Cesena and made his Serie A debut on 26 August 2007 against Cagliari. On 20 October 2007, He scored his first goal in a 4–4 draw against Roma and scored the following week, in a 3–1 win over Juventus. In his first season, he made 34 appearance and scored twice. Also during his first season, Gargano had received two sending off with a second bookable offence in a 5–2 loss against Milan on 13 January 2008 and three months on, a straight red card in a 2–1 win over Parma on 20 April 2008.
The following season, Gargano made his UEFA Cup debut in a 3–2 win over Benfica on the first round. However in the second leg, Benfica would win 2–0, eliminating Napoli in process. On 29 September 2008, Gargano provided a winning goal for Germán Denis, scoring the only goal in the game against Bologna. In the mid second season, Gargano suffered a fractured foot during training in March 2009 and was sidelined for two months.[4] He recovered in time to feature in the last two games of the Serie A season, against Catania and Chievo.
On January 2010, Gargano renewed his contract with Napoli until 2015.[5] He made his 100th appearance for the club in a match with a 3–1 loss againstFiorentina on 13 March 2010. The following season, Gargano played all six matches in Napoli's Europa League campaign and the club got advanced to the Knockout stage, only to get eliminated by Villarreal. He continued to established himself in the first team, playing in the defensive midfield.
The following season, Gargano was linked a move away and even the arrival of Gökhan Inler from Udinese threaten his first team away, meaning Gargano may no longer be required. Eventually, Gargano would remain at the club.[6] Due to the club's placed third in the league, the club would enter the UEFA Champions League. He made his debut in the Champions League game in a 1–1 draw against Manchester City and played all seven match, with the club made a progress through the knockout stage before being eliminated by Chelsea. Gargano was involved in the squad when he made a set up a goal for Edinson Cavani, who scored a hat-trick, in a 3–1 win over defending champion AC Milan. On 21 December 2011, he scored his first goal in a 6–1 thrash win over against Genoa, ending his four-year goal drought. Three months on 9 March 2012, he scored his another of the season in a 6–3 win over Cagliari. At the end of the season, Napoli would win the Coppa Italia final in a 2–0 win over Juventus, which Gargano didn't play over being suspended after picking up his second yellow card in the Coppa Italia semi final match against Siena.
Internazionale
Gargano signed for Internazionale in 23 August 2012 on loan for €1.25m with an option to make the move permanent for €8.25m.[7] Three days later after his move, he made his debut in the opening game of the season in a 3–0 win over Pescara.
International career
Gargano represented his nation at the 2007 Copa América. He was included in the squad to the World Cup, where he came on as a substitute on several occasions, as Uruguay finished fourth in the tournament. In 2011, he was part of the Copa América winning Uruguay squad.
