This is Gaitán: a destabilising left-footed winger
The Argentinian footballer, 28 years old, comes from the Portuguese Benfica, where he amazed with his exquisite technique throughout six campaigns.
Born on 23rd February, 1988, in the town of San Martín in Buenos Aires, 'Nico' Gaitán comes to Atlético de Madrid after a prolific career in his native Argentina and in Portugal; countries where he has defended the colours of Boca Juniors and Benfica respectively, with great individual and collective success.
Left winger with capacity to undo the rival’s defenders and also play the midfield, the speed and technique with the ball at his feet are his identifying traits, thanks to which he has consolidated as one of the best assistants of world football. Not in vain, last season he made 20 assists in the 37 official matches he played with his club in all the competitions, to which he added 11 goals.
Numbers that greatly contributed to Benfica winning the League championship and the League Cup in the 2015/2016 campaign, which would ultimately be his farewell to Lisbon’s team. A team at which he arrived in the 2010/2011 season from Boca Juniors, where he made his debut in 2008.
Winner of the ‘Torneo Apertura’ and the ‘Recopa Sudamericana’ that same year, Gaitán would soon adapt to European football and this is evidenced in the 2011 award as Portugal’s Best New Player.
However, the Argentinian midfielder continued to grow campaign after campaign, leading Benfica in winning a total of three League titles, five League Cups, a Portuguese Cup and Super Cup, as well as being runners-up of the UEFA Cup in 2014. His virtues have also led him to be part of Argentina’s national team, with which he has played 16 times, including three in the recent 2016 Copa América.
Now, the fans of the Atlético de Madrid will be able to enjoy his magic.
