Álvaro Pereira

Álvaro Daniel Pereira Barragán (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈalβaɾo peˈɾejɾa]; born 28 November 1985) is a Uruguayan footballer who last played for Slovak Super Liga club ŠKF Sereď. Mainly a left back, he can perform equally as a left midfielder.

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Pereira and the second or maternal family name is Barragán.

Álvaro Pereira
Pereira with Uruguay in 2014
Personal information
Full name Álvaro Daniel Pereira Barragán
Date of birth (1985-11-28) 28 November 1985
Place of birth Montevideo, Uruguay
Height 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Left back
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2003–2004 Miramar Misiones 28 (1)
2005–2007 Quilmes 33 (0)
2007–2008 Argentinos Juniors 35 (11)
2008–2009 CFR Cluj 29 (1)
2009–2012 Porto 72 (2)
2012–2015 Inter Milan 33 (1)
2014 → São Paulo (loan) 21 (0)
2015 → Estudiantes (loan) 24 (2)
2016–2018 Estudiantes 0 (0)
2016 → Getafe (loan) 6 (0)
2016–2018 → Cerro Porteño (loan) 24 (1)
2019 Nacional 5 (0)
2020 River Plate Asunción 3 (0)
2020 ŠKF Sereď 1 (0)
National team
2008–2016 Uruguay 83 (7)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 16:04, 22 December 2020 (UTC)

After starting out at Miramar Misiones he went on to play for a host of clubs in several countries, mainly Porto and Inter Milan, winning eight major titles with the former while appearing in 118 competitive matches (three goals).

A Uruguay international since 2008, Pereira represented his country in two World Cups and three Copa Américas, earning 83 caps and winning the 2011 edition of the latter tournament.

Club career

Early years

Born in Montevideo, Pereira began his career with Miramar Misiones in 2003, moving to Argentina with Quilmes Atlético Club two years later. After the latter's relegation from the Primera División at the end of the 2006–07 season he joined Argentinos Juniors, finishing as the team's top goalscorer in the 2007 Apertura.[1]

In the middle of 2008, Pereira signed with Romania's CFR Cluj for a €2.5 million fee. He started in all the club's matches in its debut campaign in the UEFA Champions League.

Porto
Pereira in action for Porto in 2010

Pereira joined FC Porto on 4 June 2009 for a reported €4.5 million,[2] with the Portuguese acquiring 80% of the player's rights. In his first year he mostly operated as a left back, as the northerners finished third and won the Taça de Portugal. He scored his first goal for the club on 21 February 2010, netting the second in a 5–1 home thrashing of S.C. Braga.[3]

In Pereira's second season at the Estádio do Dragão, he featured in 21 Primeira Liga games (all starts), adding 12 UEFA Europa League appearances as Porto won the treble. He also started in the campaign's Portuguese Cup final against Vitória de Guimarães on 22 May 2011, scoring an own goal in the 21st minute to bring the sides level, in an eventual 6–2 triumph.[4]

After Porto rejected an offer from Premier League side Chelsea in the summer for Pereira, he signed a new contract on 3 October 2011 running until 2016, with his release clause remaining at £25.7 million.[5] In late December, he heavily criticised Manchester United's Patrice Evra for reporting alleged racist abuse from Pereira's national team colleague Luis Suárez – including a claim from Evra that Suárez "doesn't speak to black players" – saying that "what happens on the pitch stays on the pitch", adding that the Frenchman would have to "wear body armour" if the players' future international friendly was to take place immediately instead of in late 2012.[6][7]

Inter Milan

Pereira signed for Inter Milan in late August 2012 for €10 million on a four-year contract,[8][9] reuniting with former Porto teammate Fredy Guarín.[10][11] He made his Serie A debut on 2 September in a 1–3 home loss against A.S. Roma, and finished his first season with 40 appearances all competitions comprised, scoring his only goal in a 2–0 league victory at A.C. ChievoVerona.[12]

On 17 January 2014, São Paulo FC signed Pereira on loan for one and a half years, with an option to make the move permanent.[13][14] He played his first match with his new club nine days later, a 2–1 win against Oeste Futebol Clube for that year's Campeonato Paulista, assisting Antônio Carlos in the second goal; after the match, he stated he "...liked the team's intensity", further adding he still needed to "...improve a lot."[15]

Estudiantes

In January 2015, Pereira returned to Argentina to join Estudiantes de La Plata in a temporary deal, with an obligation to sign for €2.752 million.[16][17] He appeared in 36 matches across all competitions in his first year, scoring three goals – including one in a 1–1 draw to San Martín de San Juan for the Copa Argentina, with the tie ending in a penalty shootout triumph.[18] However, in his last appearance, an exhibition game against neighbouring Club de Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata which eventually turned into a massive brawl, he assaulted opponent Facundo Oreja with a kick to the face which saw him sent off;[19] he was eventually handed an eight-match ban,[20] which he served at his following club Getafe CF, where he arrived in February 2016 on loan until June.[21][22]

Pereira played his first match for the Spaniards on 1 March 2016, being ejected after two bookable offences midway through the second half of a 0–4 defeat at UD Las Palmas.[23]

Late career

On 3 July 2016, Pereira signed a one-year loan contract with Cerro Porteño of the Paraguayan Primera División.[24] During his spell in Barrio Obrero, he dealt with several injury problems.[25]

Pereira returned to his country's and its Primera División in late January 2019, with the 33-year-old joining Club Nacional de Football still on loan from Estudiantes.[26] On his debut on 4 February, he was sent off for a second yellow card at the end of extra time as the club won the Supercopa Uruguaya on penalties against rivals Peñarol.[27]

Having played only eight competitive games during his tenure, Pereira became a free agent and returned to Paraguay, signing for Club Atlético River Plate (Asunción) in January 2020.[28] On 7 October that year he came back to Europe, by joining ŠKF Sereď in the Slovak Super Liga.[29]

International career

Pereira made his debut for Uruguay against France, on 19 November 2008.[30] He scored his first international goal in his next match, another friendly, with Libya in Tripoli (3–2 win).[31]

Pereira (wearing number 6) lining up for Uruguay during the 2014 World Cup.

Pereira was an undisputed starter for the nation during the second half of the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, also starting in both legs of the successful playoffs against Costa Rica as the Charrúas returned to the FIFA World Cup. In the finals in South Africa he played in all the matches except two, scoring through a rare header in a 3–0 group stage victory over the hosts.[32]

Pereira was selected to the 2011 Copa América in Argentina, being first-choice and scoring two goals in the group stage, including the game's only against Mexico as Uruguay won its 15th continental tournament.[33] In 2013, he represented La Celeste at the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup as the nation reached the semi-finals, and also participated in the team's successful World Cup qualifying campaign.[1]

On 2 June 2014, Pereira was named in Uruguay's squad for the 2014 World Cup finals.[34] On 19 June, in the second group game against England, he was struck unconscious after being kneed in the head by Raheem Sterling, but refused to be replaced after recovering[35] and went on to feature the full 90 minutes in the 2–1 win.[36]

At the 2015 Copa América in Chile, Pereira was suspended for the quarter-final against the hosts, and his team lost by a single goal.[37] The following year, at the next edition in the United States, he only played the first group game, in which he scored an own goal in a 3–1 loss to Mexico.[38]


In November 17, 2015 Pereira scored 2 goals to make the 4-0 win to Uruguay in the qualifiers

Career statistics

Club
As of 12 March 2017[39][40]
Club Season League Cup League Cup Continental Other[lower-alpha 1] Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Miramar 2004 120————120
2005 161————161
Total 281————281
Quilmes 2005–06 50————50
2006–07 280————280
Total 330————330
Argentinos Juniors 2007–08 3511————3511
CFR Cluj 2008–09 29121—60—372
Porto 2009–10 28150408010461
2010–11 210310014010391
2011–12 231103070—341
Total 7229170290201190
Inter Milan 2012–13 28130—90—401
2013–14 5020———70
Total 33150—90—471
São Paulo (loan) 2014 21060—70111451
Estudiantes 2015 24221—100—363
Getafe (loan) 2015–16 60————60
Cerro Porteño 2016 151——102—253
2017 50——10—60
2018 00——00—00
Total 201——112—313
Career Total 301192437072213141725
  1. Includes the Campeonato Paulista and Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira

International

[41]

National teamYearAppsGoals
Uruguay 200810
2009121
2010112
2011132
201280
201390
2014111
2015112
201670
Total837

International goals

[41]

Honours

Club

Cluj

Porto

Cerro Porteño

Nacional

International

Uruguay

References
  1. "Alvaro Pereira". FIFA. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  2. Maicon and Pereira sign as Porto secure Ferreira; UEFA, 4 June 2009
  3. FC Porto 5–1 Braga; ESPN Soccernet, 21 February 2010
  4. Escobar de Lima, Filipe (22 May 2011). "Também o Jamor é o destino do FC Porto" [Jamor is FC Porto's destiny as well] (in Portuguese). Público. Retrieved 30 October 2017.
  5. Blues target Pereira signs Porto deal; ESPN Soccernet, 3 October 2011
  6. Porto's Alvaro Pereira hits out at Manchester United's Patrice Evra over Luis Suarez racism ban: 'He is not proud to be black'; Goal, 30 December 2011
  7. John Aldridge: Criticism of Liverpool FC and Kenny Dalglish in Luis Suarez row has been over the top; Liverpool Echo, 10 January 2012
  8. "Mercato: Alvaro Pereira è dell'Inter" [Market: Alvaro Pereira belongs to Inter] (in Italian). Inter Milan. 27 August 2012. Retrieved 26 December 2015.
  9. "Comunicado" [Announcement] (PDF) (in Portuguese). Portuguese Securities Market Commission. 23 August 2012. Retrieved 26 December 2015.
  10. Pereira: "Inter, everyone's dream in S. America"; Inter Milan, 24 August 2012
  11. Pereira's delight at Inter switch; FIFA, 24 August 2012
  12. "L'Inter vince tra gli sbadigli, rivivi il live" [Inter win after yawns, check out live action] (in Italian). Vavel. 26 September 2012. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
  13. "Transfer market: Alvaro Pereira to Sao Paulo". Inter Milan. 21 January 2014. Retrieved 26 December 2015.
  14. São Paulo garante empréstimo de Alvaro Pereira (São Paulo assure loan of Alvaro Pereira); Record, 17 January 2014 (in Portuguese)
  15. Alvaro Pereira aprova sua estreia: 'Gostei da intensidade do São Paulo' (Alvaro Pereira gives thumbs up to his debut: 'I liked São Paulo's intensity'); Lance!, 26 January 2014 (in Portuguese)
  16. "Lo quisieron River y Boca, pero Álvaro Pereira jugará en Estudiantes" [River and Boca wanted him, but Álvaro Pereira will play in Estudiantes] (in Spanish). La Nación. 22 January 2015. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  17. F.C. Internazionale Milano S.p.A. bilancio (financial report and accounts) on 30 June 2015 (in Italian), PDF purchased from Italian C.C.I.A.A.
  18. "Estudiantes eliminó a San Martín sanjuanino" [Estudiantes ousted San Juan's San Martín] (in Spanish). Sport Diario. 15 July 2015. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
  19. "Graves incidentes entre los jugadores de Estudiantes y Gimnasia" [Serious incidents between Estudiantes and Gimnasia players] (in Spanish). Diario Popular. 1 February 2016. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
  20. De la Rosa, José Antonio (4 February 2016). "Álvaro Pereira deberá cumplir ocho partidos de sanción" [Álvaro Pereira must serve eight-match ban] (in Spanish). Diario AS. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
  21. Navacerrada, Juancar (1 February 2016). "Ya es oficial: Álvaro Pereira, nuevo jugador del Getafe" [It's official: Álvaro Pereira, new Getafe player] (in Spanish). Marca. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
  22. "Álvaro Pereira, único fichaje del Getafe, sancionado con ocho partidos de suspensión" [Álvaro Pereira, only Getafe signing, handed eight-match ban] (in Spanish). Mundo Deportivo. 4 February 2016. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
  23. Melero, Delfín (1 March 2016). "Los canarios despluman al Getafe" [Canaries pluck Getafe] (in Spanish). Marca. Retrieved 1 March 2016.
  24. "Uruguayo Álvaro Pereira ficha por Cerro Porteño" [Uruguay's Álvaro Pereira signs for Cerro Porteño] (in Spanish). ABC Color. 3 July 2016. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
  25. "Tras 405 días de espera, Palito Pereira volvió a jugar al fútbol" [After a 405-day wait, Palito Pereira played football again] (in Spanish). Ecos. 23 April 2018. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
  26. "Nacional presentó a seis jugadores que quieren ser campeones" [Nacional presented six players who want to be champions] (in Spanish). El Observador. 25 January 2019. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
  27. "Nacional terminó con 9 y en los penales se consagró campeón" [Nacional finished with 9 and were crowned champions on penalties] (in Spanish). El Observador. 4 February 2019. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  28. "Álvaro 'Palito' Pereira regresa al fútbol paraguayo" [Álvaro 'Palito' Pereira returns to Paraguayan football] (in Spanish). D10. 31 January 2020. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  29. Zagiba, Tomáš (7 October 2020). "Obrovské meno vo Fortuna lige, do Serede mieri Álvaro Pereira!" [A huge name in the Fortuna Liga, Álvaro Pereira heading to Sereď] (in Slovak). Spravy. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  30. France vs. Uruguay; IM Scouting, 19 November 2008
  31. Uruguay vence 3–2 a Libia en amistoso con poco brillo (Uruguay win 3–2 against Libya in subpar performance); Reuters, 11 February 2009 (in Spanish)
  32. World Cup 2010: Diego Forlán strikes twice to sink South Africa; The Guardian, 16 June 2010
  33. Uruguay celebrates well into early Monday its record winning 15th Copa America; Merco Press, 25 July 2011
  34. "Uruguay World Cup 2014 squad". The Daily Telegraph. 2 June 2014. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  35. "Álvaro Pereira dio el susto" [Álvaro Pereira provided scare] (in Spanish). Marca. 19 June 2014. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
  36. "Super Suarez makes the difference". FIFA. 19 June 2014. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
  37. Wilson, Jonathan (24 June 2015). "Chile outlast Uruguay to reach Copa America semifinals". Fox Sports. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
  38. "Mexico beat Uruguay after Copa América plays Chile anthem by mistake". The Guardian. 6 June 2016. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
  39. "Alvaro Pereira". ForaDeJogo. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
  40. "Á. Pereira". Soccerway. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
  41. "Á. Pereira – Matches". Soccerway. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  42. "Cupa României ramâne la Cluj-Napoca!" [Cluj-Napoca renew Cup title!] (in Romanian). CFR Cluj. 13 June 2009. Archived from the original on 16 June 2009. Retrieved 14 June 2009.
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