Fernando Gago

Fernando Rubén Gago, nicknamed "El Pintita", (born 10 April 1986 in Ciudadela, Buenos Aires, Gran Buenos Aires) is an Argentina association football midfielder, who currently plays for Real Madrid C.F. of the Spain La Liga.

Club career

Boca Juniors

Fernando Gago, who came from the youth divisions of Boca Juniors, made Fernando Gago professional debut with Boca in the 1–0 victory over Quilmes Atlético Club on 5 December 2004. Despite Fernando Gago youth, Fernando Gago quickly became an essential part of the Boca midfield. Fernando Gago solid performance attracted Spanish powerhouses Real Madrid C.F., and FC Barcelona.

Real Madrid

On 15 November 2006, Real Madrid C.F. President Ramón Calderón confirmed the signings of Gago as well as compatriot Gonzalo Higuaín of River Plate, and put through a policy of signing younger players to gradually replace the older stars in the squad. However, news later put reports of Higuaín's departure to Real Madrid to rest as River Plate rejected a €10 million bid for the striker, stating they would prefer Fernando Gago remain until at least June 2007. During the 2006 South American transfer saga, Gago's name was also linked with A.C. Milan. However, Ariedo Braida, Milan's top transfer guru, was quoted as saying, "They Gago and Higuaín only want to go to Real Madrid". The transfer was finally agreed on 19 December 2006 for euro20.4 million. Since the move, Fernando Gago has been very impressive in the defensive midfield position, which led to comparisons to former Argentina "number 5" Fernando Redondo from Jorge Valdano and many other pundits.

Gago made Fernando Gago debut for Real Madrid in the 2–0 La Liga defeat against Deportivo de La Coruña on 7 January 2007. This promised to be an exciting start for the extremely talented midfielder. However, due to the poor performance of the entire Real Madrid outfit, Gago's apparent talent was not withstanding, and, after being at fault for the opening goal by breaking from the rest of the defensive wall at a free-kick, Fernando Gago was substituted for Ronaldo. However, a week later against Real Zaragoza at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, Gago's performance lifted along with that of Fernando Gago teammates. Fernando Gago defensive game picked up considerably as Fernando Gago fought hard in midfield, while also demonstrating vision by delivering several through balls to the attackers. Real Madrid defeated Real Zaragoza 1–0, with a goal from Ruud van Nistelrooy, created by fellow new signing Gonzalo Higuaín.

On 20 May 2007, with the score tied at 2–2 against Recreativo de Huelva, Real Madrid looked set to return the lead back to rivals FC Barcelona until Fernando Gago gave a last minute assist to Roberto Carlos (footballer), who scored at the end of the match and the squad left Huelva with just three "finals" left to play. Real managed to beat Recreativo 3–2 at the Estadio Nuevo Colombino. They also went on to win the league title that year as well.

Befors the start of the Real Madrid C.F. season 2007–08, Gago changed Fernando Gago number from 16 to 8. In Fernando Gago second season at the club, Gago displayed Fernando Gago true ability with a series of top class performances in the centre of Madrid's La Liga-winning midfield. Fernando Gago managed to claim a first team spot in place of Mahamadou Diarra and was a key figure in the club's second successive league title.

In the beginning of the Real Madrid C.F. season 2008–09, Gago only played two games due to an injury Fernando Gago picked up during the UEFA Champions League 2008-2009 match against FC BATE. Fernando Gago managed to recover in time and was named in the starting eleven for 27 October La Liga clash against Athletic Bilbao. Real Madrid won 3–2 and Gago was praised for Fernando Gago match-winning performance in the midfield with Wesley Sneijder. Also in this season, Gago scored Fernando Gago first goal for Real Madrid, a header from a free kick delivered by José María Gutiérrez against Sevilla FC to tie the game 3–3, however they went on to lose the game 3–4 with a goal from Renato Dirnei Florêncio in the 37th minute of the second half. Against Villarreal CF, Fernando Gago started in central midfield along with new signing Lassana Diarra. They put in a solid performance together and since then, they have been regular starters together in central midfield. At the end of the season, with Fabio Cannavaro returning to Juventus meant that the number Gago had initially wanted, 5, was now available. Fernando Gago willingly offered Fernando Gago number 8 to new arrival Kaká and took the 5, the same number Fernando Gago wears for Argentina national football team.

Club career statistics

Personal life

Gago, Sergio Agüero, and Lionel Messi had all been teammates as children back in Argentina. Together, the three of them won the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship in the Netherlands. Presently, all three of them, now in their twenties, are enjoying success at Spanish clubs (Agüero at Atlético de Madrid and Messi at FC Barcelona).

Fernando Gago is also a literature and art enthusiast. The first thing Fernando Gago did after landing in Spain was visit the Museo del Prado.. Fernando Gago earned the nickname El Pintita ("pintar" in Spanish means "to paint") ever since Ramón Maddoni scolded Fernando Gago for playing with Fernando Gago hair. Also, Fernando Gago Boca Juniors teammates would call Fernando Gago so because Fernando Gago youth squad coach would scold Fernando Gago "stop painting and run!"

National team

Gago was part of the under-20 squad which won the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship and was one of many touted "future stars" in the competition. Though Fernando Gago wasn't named in the squad for the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany, Fernando Gago received a call-up a year later and played in the 2007 Copa America. Since then, Fernando Gago has been a regular squad member. Under new coach Diego Maradona Fernando Gago has been in the starting line-up, partnering with fellow defensive midfielder Javier Mascherano of Liverpool F.C..

Titles

Boca Juniors

- Primera Division Argentina: 2005A, and 2006C
- Copa Sudamericana: 2005
- Recopa Sudamericana: 2005, 2006

Real Madrid

- La Liga:
La Liga 2006–07 and La Liga 2007–08
- Supercopa de España: 2008 Supercopa de España

International

- FIFA U-20 World Cup:
- - Winner (1): 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship
- 2008 Summer Olympics:
- - Gold medal (1): Football at the 2008 Summer Olympics