.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Eduardo Jesús Vargas Rojas | ||
| Date of birth | 20 November 1989 | ||
| Place of birth | Santiago, Chile | ||
| Height | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) | ||
| Playing position | Forward / Winger | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Grêmio (on loan from Napoli) | ||
| Number | 17 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2006 | Cobreloa | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2006–2009 | Cobreloa | 53 | (10) |
| 2010–2012 | Universidad de Chile | 78 | (32) |
| 2012– | Napoli | 19 | (0) |
| 2013– | → Grêmio (loan) | 23 | (7) |
| National team‡ | |||
| 2009 | Chile U-20 | 5 | (3) |
| 2009– | Chile | 27 | (11) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 2 June 2013.
† Appearances (Goals).
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 6 September 2013 | |||
Eduardo Jesús Vargas Rojas (born 20 November 1989 in Santiago, Chile) is a Chilean footballer. He currently plays for Grêmio, on loan from Napoli[1][2] as a forward.
Club career
Vargas started playing in amateurs teams in Renca, Santiago, but he didn't participate in other youth team, because he lived very far away from any club of greater Santiago. In 2006, he continued playing in an amateur third division team, where he participated in a tournament played in Puerto Montt. He was the top scorer of his team.
Later, Osvaldo Hurtado contacted Vargas with Jorge Aravena (In this moment coach of Cobreloa), where he was submitted to several evaluations. Finally he was incorporated to Cobreloa squad in 2006.
He participated in Cobreloa B, third Division team, scoring with the team, against Universidad Arturo Praton 7 August 2006, after he scored another goal against San Marcos de Arica on 28 August 2006.
Universidad de Chile
In January 2010, Club Universidad de Chile signed the winger from Cobreloa for around $700.000. His high caliber performances in the Chilean Championshipand the 2011 Copa Sudamericana have piqued the interest of several prominent European clubs, including Internazionale with manager Claudio Ranierirecently alluding to a January move for the forward.
In November 2011, he was chosen as a candidate for South American Footballer of the Year[3] (finally, was only defeated by Neymar, and got the second position), and in December he was chosen Chilean Footballer of the Year 2011.
Eduardo Vargas scored twice in the Final of the 2011 Copa Sudamericana. He scored in the third minute and in the 87th. His two goals helped "La U" achieve its first international title, and he was elected the best player of the tournament. Also, Vargas is the top scorer of the Copa Sudamericana's history with 11 goals.
Napoli
Napoli finally purchased the player's services for around $17.9 million (£11.5 million).[4] On 23 December 2011, S.S.C. Napoli President Aurelio De Laurentiis, announced that Vargas would finally arrive at the club. "I would like to inform you officially that we purchased Vargas, a few minutes ago I received a call from Dr. De Nicola, who visited the footballer and gave his ok under medical and athletic profile. We signed the contract and we also won the competition by strong Club who wanted the player. This is the testimony that our observatory is always open and we are continuously looking for young talents in the world that can make the case of Napoli and for the growth of our team".[5] Vargas arrived to Napoli on 6 January 2012 and signed on 9 January.[6] On 20 September 2012, the first match with Napoli in the Europa League 2012–13, Vargas scored three goals in the victory 4-0 versus AIK Fotboll, making a brilliant match. This is also the very first time that a Chilean player has scored a hat-trick in a continental competition in Europe.
Grêmio
On 17 January 2013, Grêmio announced that Vargas was being acquired on loan from Napoli for around $2.1 million (£1.6 million) for 12 months. Napoli insisted on a clause on the contract that would require Vargas to return after six months should the club receive an offer for his services.
International career
In 2008, Vargas participated in the Toulon Tournament, Milk Cup, where he was chosen as the tournament's best winger. He also took part in the Kupa Talents Cup, where he was awarded as the best player of the tournament.
Vargas was a regular in the U-20 National Team during the squad's friendly games prior to the 2009 South American Youth Championship. However, he did not make it to the tournament due to an injury.
