Sebastián Pérez Cardona

Sebastián Pérez Cardona (born 29 March 1993) is a Colombian footballer, who plays as a midfielder for Boavista on loan from Boca Juniors.

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Pérez and the second or maternal family name is Cardona.
Sebastián Pérez
Personal information
Full name Sebastián Pérez Cardona
Date of birth (1993-03-29) 29 March 1993
Place of birth Envigado, Colombia
Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s) Defensive midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Boavista
Youth career
2006–2010 Atlético Nacional
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011–2016 Atlético Nacional 121 (2)
2016– Boca Juniors 15 (0)
2018 → Pachuca (loan) 0 (0)
2019 → Barcelona SC (loan) 24 (0)
2020– → Boavista (loan) 3 (0)
National team‡
2011–2013 Colombia U20 16 (0)
2015–2016 Colombia Olympic 7 (0)
2016 Colombia 8 (1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 29 December 2020
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 14 August 2016

He is known for his abilities to react quickly and his skills playing both in a defensive and an attacking role. He was referenced earlier in his career by media abroad his native Colombia as a highly rated top prospect in Colombia.[1][2]

Club career

Atlético Nacional

On 4 March 2011, Pérez made his official debut for Nacional against Atlético Junior, replacing Macnelly Torres in the 86th minute. He would eventually win the 2011 Torneo Apertura with Los Verdolagas, making him the youngest player to win the honour at age 18. The following year, he was part of the Nacional squad that won both the Copa Colombia and the Superliga Colombiana, thus winning every top tier trophy in Colombia before the age of 20.[3]

Following Colombia's exit from the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup, he was invited to Arsenal for a trial in August.[4] He came on as a sub in the 67th minute for Arsenal's friendly against Manchester City, wearing the number 32 jersey. Arsenal went on to win the game 3–1. Despite only playing for 26 minutes, Pérez was praised for his natural abilities despite being so young. Arsène Wenger stated that he was impressed with Pérez during the week trial and decided to add him in the game.[5] Despite impressing both the London club and its fans, Pérez was unable to get a work-permit because 'he had yet to play at least 75% of Colombia's international matches'. Thus, he was sent back to Nacional.[6] Despite this, Wenger claimed that he would continue monitoring Perez until an opportunity to sign him comes.[7][8]

On 27 July 2016, Pérez and Atlético Nacional conquered the 2016 Copa Libertadores. This was his first international title. Before leaving Nacional, Pérez had converted himself into one of the most decorated players in Atlético Nacional's history, achieving ten titles with the club.

Boca Juniors

In 2016, Pérez signed with Argentinian club Boca Juniors. He could not play for the team from April 2017 to January 2018, due to an injury.[9]

International career

Youth

Pérez first represented the U20 Colombian national team in 2011, where he took part in the 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup that took place in his home land. He was then recalled for the 2013 South American Youth Championship, where Colombia eventually won the championship and qualified for the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup. There, Pérez would give impressive performances, attracting the likes of top European teams.[10][11][12]

Senior

Pérez received his first call-up from the senior Colombian national team under the order of José Pékerman to face Bolivia and Ecuador for the 2018 World Cup qualifiers. He made his first cap against Bolivia, being included in the initial eleven and played 62 minutes before being replaced by Edwin Cardona. Colombia went on to win in La Paz 2–3. His first international goal came the next qualifying game against Ecuador in Barranquilla. Assisted by Cardona, Pérez scored a pretty, acrobatic goal, in a match that ended 3–1.

In May 2018, he was named in Colombia's preliminary 35-man squad for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.[13] However, he did not make the final cut.[14]

International goals
Scores and results list Colombia's goal tally first.[15]
#DateVenueOpponentScoreFinalCompetition
1.29 March 2016Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez, Barranquilla, Colombia Ecuador
2–0
3–1
2018 FIFA World Cup qualification

Style of play
"In European football, I admire Éver Banega, Fernando Gago, Sergio Busquets, Xavi, Xabi Alonso and Andrea Pirlo, I am excited about playing in Europe. I want to go there and try to make it, but I am driven by those I grew up with. They had the same dreams as me, but perhaps not the same talent. There's luck involved, but also a lot of discipline. You need that to make the most of the talent you have."

Pérez, speaking of his opportunity with a trial at Arsenal and his inspirations that led to his playing style.[16]

Pérez was an amateur footballer, before joining Nacional in 2011, and yet was considered to be a 'pure natural talent' by the Colombian club.[1] Often, he is a well-known versatile player mostly because of his equal footing levels with both left and right feet, as well as carrying 'panoramic vision' as shown through his countering attacking with very accurate passing. Despite committing to a defensive midfielder most of the time, Pérez has shown that he is capable of shooting on-target goals from great distances.[17][11] He is often regarded very high by many top teams such as Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain because of his potential, led to being almost being signed by each respective club at one point.[18][19][16]

Pérez also spoke that committing to a defensive midfielder (as well as an overall midfielder in general) role throughout most of his games, was because of his admiration for Xavi, Xabi Alonso and Andrea Pirlo, that inspired him to make a difference in both defending and attacking. One of the reasons why he is often seen as a crucial player in counter-attacking.[2]

Personal life

Pérez married Manuela Restrepo in 2015.[20] In July 2016, the couple had their first child, a son.[21] In 2017, Pérez became a vegan for ethical reasons.[22]

Career statistics

Club
As of 5 September 2018[15]
Club performance League Cup Continental Total
ClubSeasonLeague AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals
Atlético Nacional2011Categoría Primera A3306070460
201217012040330
201311062—172
201429112030441
20152512010281
20166021120201
Total 12124032701885
Boca Juniors2016–17Primera División120——120
2017–1830—4070
Total 1500040190
Pachuca2018–19Liga MX0000—00
Career total 13624033102075
Notes

    Honours

    Club

    Atlético Nacional

    Boca Juniors

    International
    Colombia

    References
    1. "Arsenal transfers: Spotlight on the Colombian set to go on trial at the Emirates". talkSPORT. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
    2. Chris Beattie. "Why Arsenal have handed trials to Atletico Nacional starlet Sebastian Perez". Tribal Football. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
    3. "Sebastián Pérez". Fichajes .com: Noticias y rumores sobre el mercado de fichajes de fútbol. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
    4. "Arsenal take Sebastian Perez on trial". Sports Mole. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
    5. "Trialist Sebastian Perez features in Arsenal friendly win – what do the fans think?". Here Is The City. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
    6. "Arsenal's Perez deal hits major hitch – Deal now off?". Here Is The City. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
    7. "Sebas Pérez: "Arsenal me seguirá de cerca"". Fox Sports. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
    8. "Ingrata pero provechosa experiencia en el Arsenal". Elcolombiano.com. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
    9. http://www.elcolombiano.com/deportes/futbol/sebastian-perez-jugara-en-el-pachuca-de-mexico-NJ9281438
    10. "Porto want Arsenal trialist Sebastian Perez – report". Here Is The City. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
    11. "Arsenal transfer news: Arsenal hand trial to Sebastian Perez ahead of possible summer transfer – Metro News". Metro. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
    13. http://www.goal.com/en-gb/amp/news/revealed-every-world-cup-2018-squad-23-man-preliminary-lists/oa0atsduflsv1nsf6oqk576rb
    14. http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/falcao-and-james-join-injured-duo-in-colombias-world-cup/wnbuppcvblfj1humzah4jkfbq
    15. "Sebastián Pérez". Soccerway.com. Retrieved 30 March 2016.
    16. "Colombian Starlet Aims to Impress Arsenal Coaches After Earning Trial". International Business Times UK. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
    17. "YouTube". Youtube.com. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
    18. Administrator. "Arsenal hand Under 20 World Cup star a trial – Transfer News". TheSportsCampus.com. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
    19. "Transfer Rumors 2013 – Arsenal Might Sign Sebastián Pérez – Sportige". Sportige.com. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
    20. "Sebastián Pérez celebra cumpleaños y gol con la Selección". KienyKe (in Spanish). 29 March 2016. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
    21. "Sebastián Pérez está que no se cambia por nada ¡Ya es padre!". Noticias Caracol (in Spanish). Medellín, Colombia: Caracol Televisión. 23 July 2016. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
    22. Szeinfeld, Juan (20 January 2018). "Seba Pérez se hizo vegano" [Seba Pérez became a vegan]. Olé (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 21 January 2018. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
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