Gonzalo Rubén Bergessio

Gonzalo Bergessio

Personal information
Full name	Gonzalo Rubén Bergessio
Date of birth	July 20, 1984 (1984-07-20)
Place of birth	Córdoba, Argentina
Height	1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Playing position	Striker
Club information
Current club	Catania
Number	18
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2000–2003	Platense	90	(28)
2003–2005	Instituto	37	(6)
2005–2007	Racing Avellaneda	35	(12)
2007	Benfica	3	(0)
2008–2009	San Lorenzo	48	(29)
2009–2011	Saint-Étienne	47	(5)
2011	→ Catania (loan)	13	(5)
2011–	Catania	22	(6)
National team‡
2008–	Argentina	3	(2)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of February 24, 2012. † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of February 24, 2012

Gonzalo Rubén Bergessio (born 20 July 1984 in Córdoba, Córdoba Province) is an Argentine footballer who plays for Calcio Catania in Serie A, as a striker.

Club Career

Early Career

Bergessio started his career in the lower leagues with Club Atlético Platense. In 2005, he was signed by Instituto Atlético Central Córdoba of the top level, but at the end of the 2005–06 season Instituto were relegated, and the player was sold to Racing Club de Avellaneda.

During the Apertura 2006, Bergessio contributed with six goals, and in the following year's Clausura, continued to score on a regular basis. His fast pace earned him a big following at the Estadio Juan Domingo Perón, and he became a fan favourite after scoring the game winner against giants Boca Juniors, adding another against Club Atlético River Plate.

Benfica

On 26 June 2007, Bergessio signed a five-year €2.5m deal with Portuguese league powerhouse Sport Lisboa e Benfica. However, he only appeared in three league contests, one less than his UEFA Champions League opportunities and, in January of the following year, he returned to his country.

Return to Argentina

In January 2008, Bergessio returned to Argentina, to play with Club Atlético San Lorenzo de Almagro. On 8 May, he was involved in the Libertadores Cup tie against River where, after San Lorenzo had two players sent off and were 2–0 down, he scored twice to give his team an improbable victory on aggregate.

Saint-Étienne

On 24 August 2009, Bergessio returned to Europe, signing with France's AS Saint-Étienne for an undisclosed fee, on a four-year contract. He scored his first goal for his new club during his second appearance, a 1–1 home draw against AJ Auxerre, but netted just five times more in his first one 1/2 seasons with the Ligue 1 outfit.

Calcio Catania

In the last hours of the 2011 winter transfer window, Bergessio joined Italian team Calcio Catania, arriving on loan for the remainder of 2010–11. The Sicilians had the option to sign him player permanently at the conclusion of this loan agreement. He made his Serie A debut on 20 February, playing the full 90 minutes and being booked in a 0–1 away loss against S.S.C. Napoli.

After an initial delay in the transfer, Bergessio signed with Catania permanently on 20 August 2011 after a successful loan spell, for an undisclosed fee.

International career

Bergessio made his international debut on 15 October 2008, playing the second half of a 0–1 loss in Chile, in the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

He scored his first two international goals on 20 May 2009 in a 3–1 win over Panama.

International goals

Goal	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	20 May 2009	Estadio Brigadier General Estanislao López, Santa Fe, Argentina	Panama	2–1	3–1	Friendly
1	20 May 2009	Estadio Brigadier General Estanislao López, Santa Fe, Argentina	Panama	3–1	3–1	Friendly

External links

• Argentine League statistics (Spanish)
• Stats and profile at Zerozero
• Gonzalo Rubén Bergessio at National-Football-Teams.com
• Guardian Stats Centre