Franco Di Santo

Franco Di Santo

File:FrancoDiSanto.jpg
Personal information
Full name	Franco Matías di Santo
Position(s)	Striker
Team information
Current team	Chelsea
Number	36

Franco Matías di Santo (born April 7, 1989 in Mendoza, Mendoza Province) is an Argentine professional football player who plays as a striker for Chelsea. A transfer from Audax Italiano to Chelsea was confirmed on January 25, 2008 when he signed a 4 and a half year contract. Di Santo spoke of his excitement at having joined Chelsea and his eagerness to prove himself, as Franco holds an Italian passport he was immediately eligible to become part of their team.

Little is known among Blues fans about the 19-year-old, who signed on January 25. The striker chose to introduce himself as 'a centre forward that moves around a lot. "'Sometimes I'll be out wide, but through the middle is best for me to score as many goals as possible'" 'I like to think I can be a similar sort of player to Hernán Crespo,' he added.

I've been playing for a team there called Audax Italiano. My last season went well for me thankfully, and hopefully now that'll be the same here at Chelsea. 'I want to do as well as I can and respond by scoring goals, to start with in the reserves and hopefully soon I'll be playing with all the big names here at Chelsea.'

The club's official site confirmed that he has joined the reserve squad and so ideas that he would immediately be in contention for a first team place appear to have been unfounded.

Di Santo scored on his debut for Chelsea reserves on 11 February, 2008, getting a late equalizer in a 2-2 draw with Fulham Reserves. He wore the number '9' shirt during the game. Di Santo scored his second goal in as many appearances for the reserves team, against Reading F.C. reserves on 3rd March, 2008.

On the 14th of April 2008, he scored his first hat-trick for Chelsea against Tottenham reserves; the most notable of the three goals being a volley from a Branislav Ivanovic cross that found the top left corner. In the last reserve match of the season, Di Santo scored his seventh goal in eight reserve games against Aston Villa. Di Santo finished his 2007-08 reserve season on a high scoring 7 goals in 8 reserve games, and provided several assists.

Di Santo has been training with the first team in 2008-09 pre-season and has flown out with the squad on their tour of China. Ahead of their first game on tour, he was handed the number 36 jersey and came off the bench in that game (against Guangzhou Pharmaceutical) to score the third goal in a 4-0 victory. He scored his second goal of the tour against the Chengdu Blades in a 7-0 victory.

International career

Franco Di Santo joined the Argentina U-20 team in 2006 and scored his first goal in a game against the French U-20's. He was part of the U-20 squad that participated in the 2007 South American Youth Championship in Paraguay. Argentina U-20 head coach Sergio Batista described Franco Di Santo as a pacy and quick player in terms of dribbling and ball control. He also compared him to the former Argentina U-20 player Lionel Messi.

Club career statistics

(correct as of 30 March, 2008)

Club	Season	League			Cup			Europe			Total
		Apps	Goals	Assists	Apps	Goals	Assists	Apps	Goals	Assists	Apps	Goals	Assists
Audax Italiano	2006-07	65	16	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	15	10	3
	Total	15	10	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	15	10	3
Chelsea	2007–08	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	Total	2	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Career Total		65	16	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	15	10	3

He started his career in Godoy Cruz, a club in Mendoza, Argentina. Scored the 3rd goal Of Chelsea's 4-0 victory against Guangzhou Pharmaceutical,and was again on the scoresheet against Chengdu Blades 3 days later.

External links

• Video Compilation
• Di Santo at Football Line-ups
• Skysports.com
• Where his started his career