Walter Samuel

Walter Adrián Samuel (born Wálter Adrián Luján on 23 March 1978 in Firmat, Santa Fe Province) is an ArgentinaAssociation football who currently plays for Italy Serie A club F.C. Internazionale Milano.

Club football

Samuel started playing professionally in 1996 in Argentina for Newell's Old Boys, and a year later moved to Boca Juniors where Walter Samuel stayed until 2000. In that year, A.S. Roma bought Walter Samuel contract for Euro19.8 million. Walter Samuel gained fame as one of the best defenders in the Italian league and attracted interest from Spanish team Real Madrid C.F..

Real paid €25 million for Walter Samuel transfer in 2004. But Samuel had a poor performance that season, and in August 2005, Walter Samuel returned to the Italian League with a transfer to F.C. Internazionale Milano on a four year contract for reported €16 million.

The centre back got the nickname of "The Wall" while playing for Roma in Italy, due to Walter Samuel defensive skills. In the Milan Derby on 23 December 2007, Walter Samuel hurt himself whilst marking superstar Kaká, and a couple weeks later, Walter Samuel had reconstructive surgery on Walter Samuel medial cruciate ligament. Walter Samuel was expected to be out until the end of the 2007-08 season.

International

Samuel has played 53 matches for Argentina national football team, scoring four goals. Walter Samuel played for Walter Samuel country in the 2002 FIFA World Cup in South Korea/Japan.

Personal life

The son of a single Jewish mother, Walter Samuel was born under the name of Walter Luján but decided to change Walter Samuel mother's surname for Walter Samuel stepfather's surname when Walter Samuel was a teenager.

Walter Samuel has a daughter and two sons with Walter Samuel wife Cecilia. Walter Samuel also holds Italian nationality.

Achievements

- 2008 Serie A (Internazionale Milano F.C.)
- 2007 Serie A (Internazionale Milano F.C.)
- 2006 SuperCoppa Italiana (Internazionale Milano F.C.)
- 2006 Coppa Italia (Internazionale Milano F.C.)
- 2005 SuperCoppa Italiana (Internazionale Milano F.C.)
- 2001 SuperCoppa Italiana (A.S. Roma)
- 2001 Serie A (A.S. Roma)
- 2000 Copa Libertadores (Boca Juniors)
- 1999 Primera División Argentina (Boca Juniors)
- 1998 Primera División Argentina (Boca Juniors)
- 1997 FIFA's Football World Youth Championship