Juan Cruz (footballer, born 2000)

Juan Cruz Díaz Espósito[lower-alpha 1] (born 25 April 2000), known as Juan Cruz, is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as either an attacking midfielder or a winger for Real Betis.

Juan Cruz
Personal information
Full name Juan Cruz Díaz Espósito
Date of birth (2000-04-25) 25 April 2000
Place of birth Quilmes, Argentina
Height 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Attacking midfielder, winger
Team information
Current team
 Betis
Number 16
Youth career
2010–2018 Málaga
2016–2017 → San Félix (loan)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2017–2021 Málaga B 64 (11)
2018–2021 Málaga 4 (0)
2021–2023 Betis B 38 (7)
2022– Betis 8 (0)
International career‡
2018 Spain U18 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 18 September 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 30 June 2018

Club career

Born in Quilmes, Argentina, Cruz grew up in Rincón de la Victoria, Málaga, Andalusia,[1] and joined Málaga CF's youth setup in 2010.[2] He made his senior debut with the reserves on 19 November 2017, coming on as a second-half substitute for Nacho Abeledo in a 5–1 Tercera División home routing of Martos CD.[3]

Cruz made his first team – and La Liga – debut on 19 May 2018, replacing Mehdi Lacen in a 0–1 home loss against Getafe CF.[4] On 1 July 2021, he signed a two-year contract with Real Betis after his deal with Málaga expired; he was assigned to the B-team.[5]

Honours

International
Spain U18

Notes
  1. In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Díaz and the second or maternal family name is Espósito.

References
  1. "Juan Cruz: "I'm here, available to the coach for whatever he needs"". Málaga CF. 18 May 2020. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  2. "Álex Robles y Juan Cruz, los únicos brotes verdes del Málaga" [Álex Robles and Juan Cruz, the only green shoots of Málaga] (in Spanish). Marca. 20 May 2018. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  3. "El Malagueño pone la guinda al domingo (5–1)" [Malagueño top the Sunday (5–1)] (in Spanish). El Desmarque. 19 November 2017. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  4. "Remy hurga en la pesadilla del Málaga" [Remy digs deeper on Málaga's nightmare] (in Spanish). Marca. 19 May 2018. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  5. "El Betis Deportivo ficha a Juan Cruz, extremo del Málaga, hasta 2023" [Betis Deportivo sign Juan Cruz, Málaga winger, until 2023] (in Spanish). ABC. 1 July 2021. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
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