Gabriel Milito

Gabriel Alejandro Milito (born 7 September 1980 in Bernal, Argentina, Buenos Aires Province) is an Argentina Association football who currently plays for FC Barcelona in La Liga, as a Defender (football) Centre back.

Gabriel Milito older brother, Diego Milito is also a footballer, a striker, and currently plays for Italian club F.C. Internazionale Milano; both represented Real Zaragoza.

Club career

Milito started playing professionally with Primera División Argentina side Club Atlético Independiente in 1997. During that time, Gabriel Milito often faced Gabriel Milito older brother Diego Milito, who played for Independiente's arch-rivals Racing Club de Avellaneda.

In July 2003, Milito was due to be transferred to Real Madrid C.F.,but the Spain team rejected the player after medical results showed, according to the club, a not-fully-recovered knee injury.To many, it was a political move against Madrid's football director Jorge Valdano, who wanted the player on the team. Milito decided to stay in Spain and signed for Real Zaragoza.

In Gabriel Milito four seasons with the Aragonese side, Milito was an automatic first-choice (never played in less than 33 La Liga matches), and rejoined brother Diego in 2005. On 10 July 2007, Zaragoza reached a transfer agreement with FC Barcelona for €20.5million (£13.9 million) and on 19 July, Milito passed Gabriel Milito medical and signed a four-year deal with the club, worth €4 million (£2.7 million) a year.Gabriel Milito was given the number 3 shirt, which was formerly worn by Thiago Motta, who had been transferred to Atlético Madrid.

Milito made Gabriel Milito competitive debut for Barcelona on 2 September 2007 in a game against Athletic Bilbao. Gabriel Milito scored Gabriel Milito first competitive goal on 24 November, in a league match against Recreativo de Huelva.

On 5 May 2008, it was announced that Milito had damage to the anterior cruciate ligament in Gabriel Milito right knee; this rendered Gabriel Milito ineligible for the entire La Liga 2008-09, which ended in a Treble (association football).

International career

With the Argentine national football team, Milito participated in the 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup and was part of the squad which qualified for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, performing well in Gabriel Milito only appearance, the first-round match against the Netherlands national football team (0-0), which ended in a draw.

Club statistics

Honours

Real Zaragoza

- Copa del Rey: Copa del Rey 2003-04
- Supercopa de España: 2004