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Pablo Zabaleta

Pablo was raised in Arrecifes and started is football experience with club Obras Sanitarias before progressing through the youth ranks at Club Atlético San Lorenzo de Almagro. He was promoted to the senior squad in 2002 at the ripe age of 15 and played 3 seasons for the Argentinian club for whom he won the Copa Sudamericana in 2002.

In 2005 Spanish side Espanyol de Barcelona secured him for £2m right after Pablo had captained Argentina to the World Under-20 title. He soon established himself in the Spanish side and was part of the Espanyol team which lost on penalties to Sevilla in the final of the UEFA Cup in 2007. That came after Espanyol won the King's Cup in 2006. He was also a member of the Argentinian squad which won the Gold Medal at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

In late August 2008 he was brought to Manchester City by Manager Mark Hughes as a replacement for Vedran Corluka who was sold to Tottenham. He played the first half of the following season at right-back, but was then moved into central midfield, a position he was accoustomed to while playing back in Argentina. The latter stage of his first season he lost due to injuries.

Playing Record:


Season: Club: LEA LEG FCA FCG LCA LCG ECA ECG TOA TOG

2002-2005 San Lorenzo (ARG) 66 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 66 8
2005-2008 Espanyol (SPA) 80 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 81 3
2008-2009 Manchester City 29 1 1 0 1 0 11 1 42 2
2009- Manchester City                    

Total:   217 82 6 3 6 6 26 6 255 97

LA = League Attendances. LG = League Goals.
FCA = FA Cup Attendances. FCG = FA Cup Goals.
LCA = League Cup Attendances. LCG = League Cup Goals.
ECA = European Cup Attendances. ECG = European Cup Goals.
TOA = Total Attendances. TOG = Total Goals

Factfile:

Player picture

   
Full name: Pablo Javier Zabaleta
Born: 16/1 1985
Birthplace: Buones Aires (Argentina)
Nationality: Argentina (7/1)
Heighth: 179 cm
Weight: 71 kg
Position: Right Back/Defensive midfielder
Signed: 31/8 2008
Fee: £6.45m
Shirt: 5