Éver Banega

Born in Rosario, Santa Fe, Banega came through the youth ranks at Boca Juniors, reaching the first team at 18, and winning immediate recognition thanks to his passing average and his performances in the Primera División. After teammate midfielder Fernando Gago moved to Real Madrid in January 2007, he was named as his successor despite his young age.[2]

Banega made his professional debut in the 4–0 win against Banfield on 10 February 2007. On 1 April, just a few matches afterwards, he was given an ovation when he left the field.[3]

Banega in action for Valencia in 2011

On 5 January 2008, Banega signed with Spanish side Valencia on a 5+1⁄2-year deal, for a fee of around €20 million.[4] He made his debut on the 13th in a 0–1 loss at Atlético Madrid, coming on as a half-time substitute.[5]

Banega was loaned to Atlético Madrid for 2008–09.[6] He made his official debut as a substitute during the Colchoneros's 3–0 away victory over PSV Eindhoven, in the first group stage match of the season's UEFA Champions League.[7] However, he failed to settle in the team's starting XI, also being sent off in away draws against Villarreal[8] and Almería.[9]

Following his return from Atlético, it appeared that Banega was to join English club Everton,[10] but a move did not materialise due to problems acquiring a visa. He subsequently returned for the 2009–10 campaign, and assisted both goals in Valencia's opening game against Sevilla.[11] He scored his first goal for the Che on 17 January 2010 in a 4–1 defeat of neighbouring Villarreal.[12]

Banega played 28 matches in 2010–11 (19 starts, two goals), as Valencia finished third and qualified to the Champions League. On 19 February 2012, however, he prolonged an existing spell on the sidelines – he had recently returned from a knee injury – after he was run over by his own car. As a result, he fractured his left ankle and broke the tibia and fibula in his left leg, according to Valencia team doctor Enrique Gastaldi.[13] He required ankle surgery, going on to miss the remainder of the season;[14] the club only confirmed that the player had been hurt in an accident involving his own car after leaving training, however Spanish media had reported that the injury occurred when he failed to put the handbrake on at a petrol station and, after the car moved, his leg was caught between the wheel and the curb.[15][16][17]

On 31 January 2014, Banega was loaned to Newell's Old Boys in his country, until the end of the campaign.[18]

Barcelona's Lionel Messi dribbling past Banega in the 2015 UEFA Super Cup

On 19 August 2014, Banega joined Sevilla for an undisclosed fee, crediting his decision to move clubs to manager Unai Emery, who had managed him at Valencia.[19] He made his official debut four days later, replacing Aleix Vidal for the final 20 minutes of a 1–1 draw against his former team.[20]

On 27 May 2015, Banega started for Sevilla in the 2015 UEFA Europa League Final defeat of Dnipro at Poland's National Stadium,[21] being named player of the match in the process.[22] On 11 August, in the ensuing edition of the UEFA Super Cup, he scored the fastest ever goal in the competition through a third-minute free kick, but in a 5–4 loss to Barcelona.[23]

Even though he had been deemed surplus to requirements the year before by the same manager,[24] Banega continued to be an undisputed starter in 2015–16, netting nine times in 46 competitive appearances.[25] He played the full 90 minutes in the Europa League final, won 3–1 against Liverpool.[26] In his last game for the Andalusians, the final of the Copa del Rey on 22 May 2016, he was sent off for a 90th-minute tackle on Neymar in an eventual 2–0 defeat to Barcelona after extra time.[27]

On 16 May 2016, it was announced that Banega would sign for Inter Milan as a free agent, with the move being made effective on 1 July.[28] In his first interview, he stated: "I'm very excited to play for a club like Inter", adding "I cannot wait to play for Inter."[29] He was officially presented on 12 August,[30] being given squad number 19.[31]

Banega made his Serie A debut on 21 August 2016, starting and playing 70 minutes in a 2–0 away loss against ChievoVerona.[32] On 11 September, at newly promoted Pescara, he provided the first goal of Mauro Icardi in an eventual 2–1 comeback win for the first three points of the season.[33]

Banega was named in Inter's Europa League squad,[34] starting in their first match against Hapoel Be'er Sheva, which finished in a 0–2 defeat at the San Siro.[35] He scored his first goal for the nerazzurri on 2 October, but in a 2–1 away loss to Roma.[36]

During the first part of the campaign, Banega started mostly but was also benched on occasion, which led to rumours of a possible move in the winter transfer window.[37] On 5 March 2017 he returned to the starting XI for the league match against Cagliari, assisting Ivan Perišić and scoring himself a free kick in a 5–1 away victory.[38] One week later, he netted his first hat-trick as a professional in the 7–1 home thrashing of Atalanta,[39] which set a new league personal best at six goals.[40][41]

On 27 June 2017, a mere 13 months after leaving the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium, Banega returned to Sevilla.[42] He was sent off in his first league game in his second spell for allegedly insulting the referee, immediately after being booked for committing a foul in the last minutes of the 1–1 home draw against Espanyol.[43]

In January 2020, it was announced that Banega would join Al Shabab of the Saudi Professional League when the Europa League, in which Sevilla were winners, ended.[44][45]

As of match played 22 September 2023[69][70]

Scores and results list Argentina's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Banega goal.[71]

International goals by date, venue, cap, opponent, score, result and competition

No.	Date	Venue	Cap	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	26 March 2013	Hernando Siles, La Paz, Bolivia	17	Bolivia	1–1	1–1	2014 FIFA World Cup qualification
2	14 August 2013	Stadio Olimpico, Rome, Italy	20	Italy	2–0	2–1	Friendly
3	14 October 2014	Hong Kong Stadium, So Kon Po, Hong Kong	25	Hong Kong	1–0	7–0
4	7 June 2016	Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara, United States	42	Chile	2–0	2–1	Copa América Centenario
5	14 November 2017	Krasnodar Stadium, Krasnodar, Russia	59	Nigeria	1–0	2–4	Friendly
6	23 March 2018	City of Manchester Stadium, Manchester, England	60	Italy	1–0	2–0