Fernando Belluschi

Fernando Belluschi

Personal information
Full name	Fernando Daniel Belluschi
Date of birth	September 10, 1983 (1983-09-10)
Place of birth	Los Quirquinchos, Argentina
Height	1.71 m (5 ft 7 1⁄2 in)
Playing position	Midfielder
Club information
Current club	Genoa
Number	25
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2002–2005	Newell's Old Boys	90	(25)
2006–2007	River Plate	48	(13)
2007–2009	Olympiacos	36	(6)
2009–	Porto	63	(6)
2012–	→ Genoa (loan)	2	(0)
National team‡
2005–	Argentina	5	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 22:39, 14 November 2011 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 14 November 2011

Fernando Daniel Belluschi (born 10 September 1983) is an Argentine football midfielder currently playing for Serie A club Genoa on loan from F.C. Porto.

Career

Belluschi started playing professionally at Newell's Old Boys in 2002, with whom he won the 2004 Apertura Championship. He moved to River Plate in 2006 and with the departure of Marcelo Gallardo to Paris Saint-Germain following the 2006 Apertura, he was named team captain, a position he would fill for two years. He then joined Olympiacos for reported €6.5 million in early 2008.

On 6 July 2009, FC Porto bought Belluschi's playing rights and 50% economic rights for €5 million. The other 50% is owned by private investment company Rio Football Services Ltd.^{[citation needed]} He signed a contract until 2013 with a release clause of €30 million.

In 2012 he was sent on loan from FC Porto to Genoa C.F.C., under a purchasing option of €3,5 million or €5 million if the club qualifies to the UEFA Europa League.

International career

Belluschi has won two caps for Argentina, where his second came against Chile on 18 April 2007.

Position and attributes

Belluschi's best position is as an attacking midfielder, or playing just behind the forwards as a link between midfield and attack, although his playing attributes are suited to a wider position.

Personal life

Belluschi is married to an Argentinian woman, named Florencia, whom he met in his homecity - Los Quirquinchos. They started dating when he was only 17 and they've been together since then. He is best friends with fellow professional footballer Nacho Scocco, and both served as best man at each other's wedding. Belluschi is also the godfather of Scocco's daughter Eva.

Honours

Club

Newell's Old Boys

• Argentine Primera División (1): Torneo Apertura 2004

Olympiacos F.C.

• Superleague Greece (2): 2007-08, 2008-09
• Greek Cup (2): 2007-08, 2008-09

FC Porto

• Portuguese League (1): 2010–11
• Taça de Portugal (2): 2009–10, 2010–11
• Portuguese Supercup (2): 2009, 2010
• UEFA Europa League (1): 2010–11

International

Argentina

• South American Youth Championship (1): 2003

External links

• Guardian statistics
• Player Profile on the River Plate Website (Spanish)
• Argentine Primera statistics (Spanish)