:Bruno Zuculini
{{short description|Argentine footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Infobox football biography
|name = Bruno Zuculini
|image = Palestino - River Plate 20190424 01.jpg
|caption = Zuculini with River Plate in 2019
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1993|4|2|df=y}}
|birth_place = Belén de Escobar, Argentina
|position = Central midfielder
|currentclub = Racing Club
|clubnumber = 36
|youthyears1 =
|youthclubs1 = Racing Club
|years1 = 2010–2014
|clubs1 = Racing Club
|caps1 = 92
|goals1 = 10
|years2 = 2014–2017
|clubs2 = Manchester City
|caps2 = 0
|goals2 = 0
|years3 = 2014–2015
|clubs3 = → Valencia (loan)
|caps3 = 1
|goals3 = 0
|years4 = 2015
|clubs4 = → Córdoba (loan)
|caps4 = 8
|goals4 = 0
|years5 = 2015–2016
|clubs5 = → Middlesbrough (loan)
|caps5 = 5
|goals5 = 0
|years6 = 2016
|clubs6 = → AEK Athens (loan)
|caps6 = 4
|goals6 = 0
|years7 = 2016–2017
|clubs7 = → Rayo Vallecano (loan)
|caps7 = 9
|goals7 = 0
|years8 = 2017
|clubs8 = → Hellas Verona (loan)
|caps8 = 16
|goals8 = 1
|years9 = 2017–2018
|clubs9 = Hellas Verona
|caps9 = 16
|goals9 = 2
|years10 = 2018–2024
|clubs10 = River Plate
|caps10 = 85
|goals10 = 4
|years11 = 2024–
|clubs11 = Racing Club
|caps11 = 30
|goals11 = 1
|nationalyears1 = 2011
|nationalteam1 = Argentina U20
|nationalcaps1 = 8
|nationalgoals1 = 2
|club-update = 18:51, 13 January 2025 (UTC)
|nationalteam-update = 20 May 2014
}}
Bruno Zuculini (born 2 April 1993) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for Racing Club.
Club career
=Racing Club=
Born in Belén de Escobar, Zuculini graduated from Racing Club's youth setup. He made his first-team debut on 13 February 2010, starting in a 1–0 away loss against Gimnasia La Plata for the Argentine Primera División championship, and aged only 16.{{cite news|url=http://www.espndeportes.com/futbol/cronica?id=286525&league=ARG.1|title=Gimnasia le complicó un poco más la vida a Racing|trans-title=Gimnasia troubles Racing's life a little more|publisher=ESPN Deportes|language=es|date=13 February 2010|access-date=19 August 2014}}
Zuculini appeared in further six matches during the campaign, and also played 12 during 2011–12. On 17 June 2012, he scored his first professional goal, but in a 4–2 away loss against Atlético de Rafaela.{{cite news|url=http://www.espndeportes.com/futbol/cronica?id=335833&league=ARG.1|title=Atlético de Rafaela goleó a Racing y dejó la zona de descenso directo|trans-title=Atlético de Rafaela thrashed Racing and leave the direct relegation zone|publisher=ESPN Deportes|language=es|date=17 June 2012|access-date=19 August 2014}}
In the 2012–13 season, after the departures of Giovanni Moreno and Lucas Nahuel Castro, Zuculini was an ever-present figure for the Avellaneda side, appearing in 32 matches and scoring five goals. On 27 September 2013 he renewed his link with the club, running until 2016.{{cite news|url=http://www.racingclub.com.ar/plantel/nota/2013/09/1972_zuculini-renovo-su-contrato-con-racing/|title=Zuculini renovó su contrato con Racing|trans-title=Zuculini renewed his deal with Racing|publisher=Racing's official website|language=es|date=27 September 2013|access-date=19 August 2014}}
=Manchester City=
On 23 July 2014, Zuculini scored the opening goal of Manchester City's pre-season match against Sporting Kansas City.{{cite news|title=Manchester City beat Sporting Kansas City in battle of champions|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/jul/24/manchester-city-beat-sporting-kansas-city|work=The Guardian|agency=Press Association|date=24 July 2014}} On 8 August, he was officially confirmed as a City player, being assigned the number 36 shirt.{{cite news|title=Bruno Zuculini completes City move|url=http://www.mcfc.co.uk/News/Team-news/2014/August/Zuculini-completes-City-move|publisher=Manchester City F.C.|date=8 August 2014|access-date=8 August 2014|archive-date=29 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160529184811/http://www.mcfc.co.uk/News/Team-news/2014/August/Zuculini-completes-City-move|url-status=dead}}
Zuculini made his competitive debut two days later in the 2014 FA Community Shield, replacing Yaya Touré after 60 minutes of an eventual 3–0 defeat to Arsenal at Wembley Stadium.{{cite news|last1=Sanghera|first1=Mandeep|title=Arsenal 3–0 Man City|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/28647186|access-date=10 August 2014|work=BBC Sport|date=10 August 2014}}
On 10 July 2015, it was confirmed that he would be in the club's squad for their pre-season tour in Australia.{{cite web|url=http://www.mcfc.co.uk/News/Tour-2015/2015/Official-Manchester-City-Tour-2015-squad-list/1436520345|title=Official Manchester City Tour 2015 squad list – Manchester City FC|work=Manchester City FC|access-date=10 July 2015|archive-date=15 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150715122441/http://www.mcfc.co.uk/News/Tour-2015/2015/Official-Manchester-City-Tour-2015-squad-list/1436520345|url-status=dead}}
==Valencia (loan)==
On 19 August 2014, Zuculini was loaned to La Liga's Valencia CF in a season-long deal.{{cite web|url=http://www.valenciacf.com/ver/36889/comunicado-oficial.html|title=Comunicado Oficial: Bruno Zuculini|trans-title=Official announcement: Bruno Zuculini|publisher=Valencia's official website|access-date=19 August 2014|language=es|date=19 August 2014}} He made his debut in the competition on 29 August 2014, coming on at half time for André Gomes in a 3–0 home win against Málaga CF.{{cite web|url=http://www.marca.com/eventos/marcador/futbol/2014_15/primera/jornada_2/val_mga/|title=Alcácer se da un homenaje|trans-title=Alcácer gives a tribute|publisher=Marca|language=es|date=29 August 2014|access-date=3 September 2014}}
On 30 January 2015, Zuculini's loan was rescinded, after appearing just 45 minutes for the Che.{{cite web|url=http://www.valenciacf.com/ver/40008/comunicado-oficial--bruno-zuculini.html|title=Comunicado Oficial {{!}} Bruno Zuculini|trans-title=Official statement {{!}} Bruno Zuculini|publisher=Valencia's official website|language=es|date=30 January 2015|access-date=30 January 2015}}
==Córdoba (loan)==
Hours after rescinding with Valencia, Zuculini joined fellow league team Córdoba CF on loan until June.{{cite web|url=http://www.cordobacf.com/-/zuculini-nuevo-jugador-del-cordoba-cf |title=Zuculini, nuevo jugador del Córdoba CF |trans-title=Zuculini, new player of Córdoba CF |publisher=Córdoba's official website |language=es |date=30 January 2015 |access-date=30 January 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150201193326/http://www.cordobacf.com/-/zuculini-nuevo-jugador-del-cordoba-cf |archive-date= 1 February 2015 }} The team were relegated in last place in the league,{{citation needed|date=October 2020}} and Spanish newspaper Marca named him in their worst team of the season.{{cite web |last1=Young |first1=Alex |title=Worst in La Liga? Zuculini answers critics with Man City wonderstrike |url=https://www.goal.com/en-ke/news/4500/main/2015/09/07/15128912/worst-in-la-liga-zuculini-answers-critics-with-man-city |website=Goal |access-date=8 October 2020 |date=7 September 2015}}
==Middlesbrough (loan)==
Following loan spells in Spain, Zuculini made his first loan move to an English club on 26 October 2015 as he joined Championship club Middlesbrough on a month-long loan.{{cite web|url=http://www.mfc.co.uk/news/article/2014/boro-bruno-zuculini-manchester-city-2765683.aspx|title=Bruno Zuculini Joins Boro On Loan From Manchester City|work=Middlesbrough FC |date=26 October 2015|access-date=26 October 2015}}
On 25 November 2015, the loan was extended to 2 January 2016.
==AEK Athens (loan)==
Zuculini was on loan at AEK Athens until the end of the 2016 Greek Superleague campaign.{{cite web|author1=ANNOUNCEMENTS |title=Bruno Zuculini joins AEK FC |url=http://www.aekfc.gr/newsdetails/symfonia-me-brouno-zoukoulini-47415.htm?lang=en&path=1939241070 |website=AEK F.C. Official Web Site |access-date=2 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160206144923/http://www.aekfc.gr/newsdetails/symfonia-me-brouno-zoukoulini-47415.htm?lang=en&path=1939241070 |archive-date= 6 February 2016 |location=Online |language=en |url-status=dead }} On 4 February 2016, he made his debut with the club, in an away 1–0 win against Iraklis at Kaftanzoglio Stadium for Greek Cup helping his club to advance to semi finals.{{cite web|title=AEK beat Iraklis and advance to Greek Cup semi finals |url=http://www.sdna.gr/news-english/article/164679/aek-beat-iraklis-and-advance-greek-cup-semi-finals-vid| publisher=www.sdna.gr |access-date=4 February 2016 |language=en}}
On 23 February 2016, Argentine midfielder Zuculini suffered a serious fracture injury in the metatarsal and had to return to England in order to undergo surgery.{{cite web|title=Zuculini: "I will return in two months to help AEK again"|url=http://www.sdna.gr/news-english/article/171828/zuculini-i-still-have-many-things-give-aek| publisher=www.sdna.gr |access-date=23 February 2016 |language=en}}
==Rayo Vallecano (loan)==
Zuculini signed on loan for Rayo Vallecano until the end of the 2016–17 Segunda División campaign.{{cite web|url=http://www.rayovallecano.es/noticia/bruno-zuculini-nuevo-jugador-del-rayo|title=Bruno Zuculini nuevo jugador del Rayo|trans-title=Bruno Zuculini new player of Rayo|publisher=Rayo Vallecano|language=es|date=29 August 2016|access-date=29 August 2016}} On 17 January, after only nine league matches, his loan was cut short and he joined his brother at Verona.{{cite web|url=http://www.rayovallecano.es/noticia/bruno-zuculini-deja-de-ser-jugador-del-rayo|title=Bruno Zuculini deja de ser jugador del Rayo|trans-title=Bruno Zuculini leaves Rayo|publisher=Rayo Vallecano|language=es|date=17 January 2017|access-date=17 January 2017}}
=Hellas Verona=
After spending the second half of the 2016–17 on loan at Hellas Verona, Zuculini signed a permanent deal with the club on 11 July 2017.{{Cite news|title=Welcome Back Zuculini|url=http://www.hellasverona.it/2017/07/11/__1_2_3_4_5_6|publisher=Hellas Verona|date=11 July 2017|access-date=11 July 2017|language=it|archive-date=20 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170920092652/http://www.hellasverona.it/2017/07/11/__1_2_3_4_5_6|url-status=dead}}
Personal life
Zuculini's older brother Franco is also a footballer and a midfielder. He too trained at Racing Club, with both playing together in 2011.{{cite news | url = http://www.goal.com/en/news/585/argentina/2011/05/12/2483825/franco-bruno-zuculini-to-play-together-for-the-first-time | title = Franco & Bruno Zuculini to play together for the first time for Racing Club | publisher = Goal.com | date = 12 May 2011 | access-date = 2 November 2013}}
Career statistics
{{updated|match played 20 April 2023}}{{soccerway|bruno-zuculini/116420|accessdate=12 October 2017}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | ||||||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|National Cup !colspan="2"|League Cup !colspan="2"|Continental !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan="6"|Racing Club
|rowspan="5"|Primera División |7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 7 | 0 | ||||
| 2010–11
|12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 12 | 0 | ||||
| 2011–12
|15 | 1 | 4 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 19 | 1 | ||||
| 2012–13
|32 | 5 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 2Appearances in Copa Sudamericana | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 34 | 5 | |||
| 2013–14
|26 | 4 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 27 | 4 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!92 | 10 | 4 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 4 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 100 | 10 | |||
| rowspan="3"|Manchester City
|rowspan="2"|Premier League |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1Appearance in FA Community Shield | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2015–16
|0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Valencia (loan)
|1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 1 | 0 | ||||
| Córdoba (loan)
|La Liga |8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 8 | 0 | ||||
| Middlesbrough (loan)
|5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 6 | 0 | |||
| AEK (loan)
|3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 4 | 0 | |||
| Rayo Vallecano (loan)
|9 | 0 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 11 | 0 | ||||
| Verona (loan)
|16 | 1 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 16 | 1 | ||||
| Verona
|16 | 2 | 2 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 18 | 3 | ||||
| rowspan="8" |River Plate
| rowspan="7" |Primera División |8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 6Appearances in Copa Libertadores | 0 | 1Appearance in Supercopa Argentina
|0 | 15 | 0 | |||
| 2018–19
|14 |0 |2 |0 |2Appearances in Copa de la Liga |0 |4Appearances in Copa Libertadores |0 |3Appearances in Recopa Sudamericana, FIFA Club World Cup, and Torneo de Verano |1 |25 |1 | ||||||||||||
| 2019–20
|6 |0 |1 |0 |0 |0 |2Appearances in Copa Libertadores |0 |1Appearance in Supercopa Argentina |0 |10 |0 | ||||||||||||
| 2020–21
|8 |1 |2 |0 |0 |0 |4Appearances in Copa Libertadores |2 |0 |0 |14 |3 | ||||||||||||
| 2021
|23 |2 |0 |0 |0 |0 |3Appearances in Copa Libertadores |0 |1Appearance in Trofeo de Campeones |0 |27 |2 | ||||||||||||
| 2022
|14 |0 |1 |1 |0 |0 |4Appearances in Copa Libertadores |0 |0 |0 |19 |1 | ||||||||||||
| 2023
|1 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |1 |0 | ||||||||||||
| colspan="2" |Total
!74 !3 !6 !1 !2 !0 !23 !2 !6 !1 !111 !7 | ||||||||||||
| colspan="3" |Career total
!223 | 16 | 16 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 27 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 276 | 21 |
{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}
Honours
AEK Athens
River Plate
- Supercopa Argentina: 2017, 2019
- Copa Argentina: 2018–19
- Copa Libertadores: 2018
- Recopa Sudamericana: 2019
- Primera División: 2021, 2023
- Trofeo de Campeones: 2021
Racing Club
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
- {{BDFutbol|20000}}
- {{ESPN FC|144267}}
- {{in lang|es}} {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20140827071123/http://www.futbolxxi.com/Futbolista.aspx?ID=14295&SEOFutbolista=Zuculini+Bruno Argentine Primera statistics]}} at Futbol XXI
{{Racing Club de Avellaneda squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Zuculini, Bruno}}
Category:People from Escobar Partido
Category:Footballers from Buenos Aires Province
Category:Argentine sportspeople of Italian descent
Category:Argentine men's footballers
Category:Argentina men's under-20 international footballers
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Racing Club de Avellaneda footballers
Category:Manchester City F.C. players
Category:Rayo Vallecano players
Category:Middlesbrough F.C. players
Category:AEK Athens F.C. players
Category:Hellas Verona FC players
Category:Club Atlético River Plate footballers
Category:Argentine Primera División players
Category:Copa Libertadores–winning players
Category:Copa Sudamericana–winning players
Category:Segunda División players
Category:English Football League players
Category:Super League Greece players
Category:Argentine expatriate men's footballers
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in England
Category:Argentine expatriate sportspeople in England
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Spain
Category:Argentine expatriate sportspeople in Spain
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Greece
Category:Argentine expatriate sportspeople in Greece
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Italy