Emanuel Benjamín
{{short description|Italian footballer (born 2007)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Portuguese name|de Sant'Ana|Balbinot}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Emanuel Benjamín
| image =
| fullname = Emanuel Benjamín de Sant'Ana Balbinot{{Cite web|url=https://www.sprintesport.it/nazionali/2024/03/21/news/l-italia-si-innamora-di-benjamin-de-sant-ana-balbinot-il-nuovo-talento-del-real-madrid-603468/|title=L'Italia si innamora di Benjamin de Sant'ana Balbinot, il nuovo talento del Real Madrid|author=Riccardo Maschere|date=21 March 2024|access-date=26 June 2024|language=it}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|2007|7|14|df=y}}
| birth_place = Blumenau,{{Cite web|url=https://omunicipioblumenau.com.br/blumenauense-do-real-madrid-e-convocado-pela-selecao-sub-17-da-italia/|title=Blumenauense do Real Madrid é convocado pela seleção sub-17 da Itália|author=Marlos Glatz|date=23 January 2021|access-date=26 June 2024|language=pt}} Brazil
| height =
| position = Defender
| currentclub = Real Madrid
| clubnumber =
| youthyears1 = 2018–2019
| youthclubs1 = Complutense Alcalá
| youthyears2 = 2019–2021
| youthclubs2 = Rayo Vallecano
| youthyears3 = 2021–2022
| youthclubs3 = Getafe
| youthyears4 = 2022–
| youthclubs4 = Real Madrid
| years1 = 2024-
| clubs1 = Real Madrid C
| caps1 = 3
| goals1 = 1
| nationalyears1 = 2024–
| nationalteam1 = Italy U17
| nationalcaps1 = 11
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2 = 2024–
| nationalteam2 = Italy U18
| nationalcaps2 = 2
| nationalgoals2 = 0
| club-update = 26 June 2024 (UTC)
| nationalteam-update = 19:30, 5 June 2024 (UTC)
| medaltemplates = {{Medal|Sport|Men's football}}
{{Medal|Country|{{fb|ITA}}}}
{{Medal|Comp|UEFA European Under-17 Championship}}
{{Medal|W|2024 Cyprus|}}
}}
Emanuel Benjamín de Sant'Ana Balbinot (born July 14, 2007) is a footballer who plays as a defender for Real Madrid youth team.
Born in Brazil, he represents Italy at youth level.
Early life
Benjamín was born in Blumenau, Santa Catarina to Jefferson Alvés Balbinot and Marcela Regina de Sant'ana Balbinot.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mondoprimavera.com/news/308970688006/emanuel-benjamin-de-sant-ana-balbinot-un-brasiliano-in-azzurro|title=Emanuel Benjamin de Sant'ana Balbinot, un brasiliano in azzurro|author=Valeria Ciuffreda|work=MondoPrimavera |date=18 March 2024|access-date=26 June 2024|language=it}} In Brazil, he started playing futsal, but in 2018 he and his family moved to Spain.
He is of Italian descent; his grandparents are from Pievepelago, Emilia-Romagna, and he earned Italian citizenship as a result.{{Cite web|url=https://www.figc.it/it/nazionali/news/un-cl%C3%A1sico-allitaliana-natali-ed-emanuel-oltre-ogni-rivalit%C3%A0-siamo-diventati-amici-grazie-alla-nazionale/|title=Un Clásico all'italiana, Natali ed Emanuel oltre ogni rivalità: "Siamo diventati amici grazie alla Nazionale"|work=Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio |date=29 May 2024|access-date=26 June 2024|language=it}} His brothers, Samuel and Miguel, are also footballers for Atlético Madrid.
Club career
Benjamín started playing football instead of futsal when he moved to Spain, joining Complutense Alcalá and, one year later, Rayo Vallecano.
During his first season at Rayo, he played as a forward, maintaining an average of one goal per game. However, due to his small frame, which was not suited for a true center forward, he was moved to the wing.
In 2021 he moved to Getafe and then to Real Madrid "Juvenil A", making in his debuts season 4 goals in 24 games.
International career
As Benjamín holds both Italian and Brazilian citizenship, he was eligible to play for both the Italian and Brazilian national teams. In 2024, he was called up for the first time for Italy U17,{{Cite web|url=https://www.figc.it/it/nazionali/news/azzurrini-pronti-per-leuropeo-i-20-convocati-di-favo-per-la-fase-finale-il-21-maggio-lesordio-con-la-polonia/|title=I 20 convocati di Favo per la fase finale. Il 21 maggio l'esordio con la Polonia|website=FIGC|date=16 May 2024|access-date=26 June 2024|language=it}} with whom he won the 2024 UEFA European Under-17 Championship.{{Cite web |url=https://www.uefa.com/under17/news/028e-1b0fc4de26c4-e1521a8481c2-1000--uefa-under-17-euro-final-report-italy-3-0-portugal/|title=UEFA Under-17 EURO final report: Italy 3-0 Portugal|date=5 June 2024|access-date=26 June 2024}}
Honours
Italy U17
Individual
- UEFA European Under-17 Championship Team of the Tournament: 2024{{cite web|website=UEFA|url=https://www.uefa.com/under17/news/028e-1b135047563c-4d3ee3bd0f3a-1000--2024-team-of-the-tournament/|title=2024 UEFA European Under-17 Championship Team of the Tournament|date=7 June 2024|access-date=27 June 2024}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Benjamín, Emanuel}}
Category:Footballers from Blumenau
Category:Italian men's footballers
Category:Italy men's youth international footballers
Category:Brazilian men's footballers
Category:Brazilian people of Italian descent
Category:Italian expatriate men's footballers
Category:Brazilian expatriate men's footballers
Category:Italian expatriate sportspeople in Spain
Category:Brazilian expatriate sportspeople in Spain
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Spain
Category:Men's association football defenders