Juan Manuel Vargas
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Juan Manuel Vargas Risco | ||
| Height | 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Defensive Midfielder/ Midfielder/ Left back | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Catania | ||
| Number | 7 | ||
| ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of December 10, 2006 | |||
Juan Manuel Vargas (born October 5, 1983 in Lima), is a Peruvian international footballer. His position is midfielder, and defense.
Vargas plays on the wing, in the defense, or in the midfield, in both offensive and defensive positions. Although typically labeled as a defensive player, he impresses with his ability to dribble the ball and make remarkable shots on goal. He is also known for his free kick ability.
El Loco Vargas or Catania's Roberto Carlos got his start in the popular Peruvian team Universitario de Deportes where he quickly earned a main spot in the team by 2004, given his great play and his crowd-pleasing goals at key moments. He also earned a spot in the Peruvian national team roster. In 2005 he transferred to Argentine team Colón de Santa Fe, where he has also earned a spot in the starting line-up and the admiration of his coaches. In 2005 Boca Juniors became so impressed with the player that they bought 10% of his contract.
In August, 2006, he received offers from Calcio Catania of Italy and Portsmouth F.C. from England. He signed for Catania for four years.
He scored his first goal for Catania on October 31, 2007, in the 88th minute, tying Siena 1-1 and prolonging Catania's unbeaten streak to 7 games.
After impressing in the Serie A 2007-08 season, Vargas was linked with several of Italy's top clubs, including Inter Milan and ACF Fiorentina.
External links
- Juan Manuel Vargas – FIFA competition record (archived)
- Player profile - delgol.com
- Profile Oficial at Calcio Catania