Roberto Pereyra
{{short description|Argentine footballer (born 1991)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Roberto Pereyra
| full_name = Roberto Maximiliano Pereyra{{cite web|url=https://www.premierleague.com/news/84136|title=Squads for 2016/17 Premier League confirmed|website=premierleague.com|date=1 September 2016|access-date=11 September 2016}}
| image = RobertoPereyra.jpg
| caption = Pereyra with River Plate in 2011
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1991|1|7|df=y}}
| birth_place = San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina
| position = Midfielder, forward
| currentclub = AEK Athens
| clubnumber = 37
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 = River Plate
| years1 = 2008–2011
| clubs1 = River Plate
| caps1 = 43
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2011–2015
| clubs2 = Udinese
| caps2 = 84
| goals2 = 8
| years3 = 2014–2015
| clubs3 = → Juventus (loan)
| caps3 = 35
| goals3 = 4
| years4 = 2015–2016
| clubs4 = Juventus
| caps4 = 14
| goals4 = 0
| years5 = 2016–2020
| clubs5 = Watford
| caps5 = 106
| goals5 = 16
| years6 = 2020–2024
| clubs6 = Udinese
| caps6 = 119
| goals6 = 17
| years7 = 2024–
| clubs7 = AEK Athens
| caps7 = 25
| goals7 = 0
| nationalyears1 = 2011
| nationalteam1 = Argentina U20
| nationalcaps1 = 4
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2 = 2014–2019
| nationalteam2 = Argentina
| nationalcaps2 = 19
| nationalgoals2 = 2
| medaltemplates = {{MedalCompetition|Copa América}}
{{Medal|RU|2015 Chile|Team}}
{{Medal|3rd|2019 Brazil|Team}}
| club-update = 10:02, 12 May 2025 (UTC)
| nationalteam-update = 10 October 2019
}}
Roberto Maximiliano Pereyra ({{IPA|es|roˈβeɾto peˈɾejɾa}}; born 7 January 1991) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays for Greek Super League club AEK Athens. A versatile player, he is capable of playing a variety of positions such as on the wing, in central midfield, attacking midfield or as a second striker.{{cite web|url=http://www.calciosudamericano.it/roberto-pereyra-nuovi-zanetti-crescono/|title=Roberto Pereyra, nuovi Zanetti crescono...|trans-title=Roberto Pereyra, new Zanettis are developing...|publisher=Calcio Sudamericano|author1=Andrea Bracco|language=it|date=5 July 2011|access-date=11 June 2015}}
After beginning his career in Argentina with River Plate, Pereyra joined Italian club Udinese in 2011, where his performances earned him a loan to defending league champions Juventus in 2014; he was signed permanently by The Old Lady in 2015 and won two consecutive Serie A titles during his time with the club. During his time in Italy, he developed into a well-rounded, adaptable, and tactically versatile player due to his dynamism, energy, and technique, as well as his offensive and defensive work-rate and attributes.{{cite web|url=http://www.juventus.com/juve/it/news/pereyra%20dinamismo%20e%20duttilita|title=Pereyra, dinamismo e duttilità|trans-title=Pereyra, dynamism and versatility|publisher=Juventus FC|language=it|date=25 July 2015|access-date=11 June 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150613020935/http://www.juventus.com/juve/it/news/pereyra%20dinamismo%20e%20duttilita|archive-date=13 June 2015}} In 2016, he joined English Premier League club Watford.
At international level, Pereyra made his senior debut in 2014, and has since obtained over ten caps; he represented the Argentina national football team at two editions of the Copa América, winning a runners-up medal and a bronze medal in the 2015 and the 2019 editions of the tournament respectively.
Club career
=River Plate=
Born in San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina, Pereyra began his career within the youth academy of River Plate; due to his origins, he was given the nickname "El Tucumano". His professional career began in 2009 when he made his River Plate debut in the Argentine Primera Division against Huracan at the age of 18.{{cite web |url=http://www.argentinesoccer.com/player_apps.cfm?id=rpry&Championship=cl09&Team=riv |title=Closing '09 statistics |publisher=Argentine Soccer |access-date=29 July 2011 }} After featuring on 43 occasions for River, Pereyra transferred across the Atlantic Ocean, swapping continents, as he joined Udinese Calcio ahead of the 2011–12 Serie A season.
=Udinese Calcio=
Officially signing for Udinese on 30 August 2011, Pereyra signed a five-year contract with the Friuli outfit,{{cite web |url=http://www.udinese.it/ENG/script/view.php?id=815 |title=Pereyra Declares...Welcome Roberto! |publisher=Udinese |access-date=31 August 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110929153023/http://www.udinese.it/ENG/script/view.php?id=815 |archive-date=29 September 2011 }} and went on to make 15 appearances in all competitions during his debut season in Italy. His performances for Udinese during a three–year spell saw him contribute eight goals and seven assists in 84 league appearances, while he also represented the club in 6 Coppa Italia matches, 2 UEFA Champions League matches, and 12 UEFA Europa League games.
=Juventus=
File:Serie A 2014-15 - Juventus v Napoli - Roberto Pereyra.jpg
On 25 July 2014, Pereyra officially signed for, at the time, three-time defending Serie A champions Juventus on a season-long loan deal from Udinese worth €1.5 million, with the option to sign the player outright at the conclusion of the 2014–15 Serie A campaign for an additional €14 million.{{cite web|url=http://www.juventus.com/juve/en/news/roberto-pereyra-joins-juventus |title=Pereyra joins Juventus |date=25 July 2014 |publisher=Juventus F.C. |access-date=25 July 2014}} On the same day, Pereyra appeared for his club in their first friendly match of the season against Lucento. On 23 August 2014, he featured for Juventus in the annual Trofeo TIM. Pereyra capitalised on Francesco Magnanelli's failed clearance to sidefoot home from just outside the six-yard box.
On 6 June 2015, Pereyra appeared as a substitute for Juventus in the 2015 UEFA Champions League Final as La Vecchia Signora was defeated 3–1 by FC Barcelona at Berlin's Olympiastadion.{{cite news|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/0252-0cd2c6a4864d-8c8d00efd1bd-1000--barcelona-see-off-juventus-to-claim-fifth-title/|title=Barcelona see off Juventus to claim fifth title|date=6 June 2015|publisher=UEFA}} With 52 appearances, he made the most appearances for Juventus that season across all competitions, along with teammates Claudio Marchisio and Leonardo Bonucci.
On 23 June 2015, Juventus bought out Pereyra's Udinese loan for €14 million, keeping him at Juventus until 2019.{{cite web|url=http://www.italianfootballdaily.com/official-juventus-exercise-the-buyout-option-for-pereyra-the-financial-details/|title=OFFICIAL: Juventus exercise the buyout option for Pereyra – The Financial Details – IFD|website=italianfootballdaily.com}}
=Watford=
On 19 August 2016, Pereyra moved to Watford on a five-year deal for an undisclosed fee.{{cite web | url=https://www.watfordfc.com/teams/first-team/watford-complete-roberto-pereyra-signing | title=Watford complete Roberto Pereyra signing |publisher=Watford F.C. | date=19 August 2016 | access-date=19 August 2016}} According to an official club statement released by Juventus, the transfer is worth €13 million, with a possible €2 million in bonuses, which is to be paid over a four-year period.{{cite web|url=http://www.juventus.com/media/native/investor-relations-docs/english/price-sensitive-press-releases/2015-2016/comunicato%2020082016%20pereyra%20eng[1].pdf|title=AGREEMENT WITH WATFORD FC FOR THE DEFINITIVE DISPOSAL OF THE PLAYER ROBERTO PEREYRA|date=20 August 2016|access-date=20 August 2016|publisher=Juventus F.C.}} He was assigned the number 37 shirt for the 2016–17 season.{{cite web | url=http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/news/14695162.Hornets_announce_squad_numbers_for_Pereyra_and_Kaboul/?ref=mr&lp=1 | title=Watford announce squad numbers for new signings Roberto Pereyra and Younes Kaboul | work=Watford Observer | date=20 August 2016 | access-date=20 August 2016 | author=Mail, Simon}} On his Watford debut, Pereyra scored his first goal for the club in a 3–1 home defeat to Arsenal in the Premier League, on 27 August.{{cite web|url=http://www.espnfc.us/club/watford/395/blog/post/2939315/roberto-pereyra-gives-watford-hope-in-mixed-display-against-arsenal|title=Roberto Pereyra gives Watford hope in mixed display against Arsenal|publisher=ESPN FC|author1=Mike Parkin|date=28 August 2016|access-date=15 September 2016}} On 5 February 2018, he came off the bench to score the fourth goal in a 4–1 thrashing of Chelsea.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42855189|title=Watford 4–1 Chelsea|date=5 February 2018|website=BBC Sport}}
=Return to Udinese=
Pereyra re-joined Italian side Udinese on 28 September 2020 for an undisclosed fee.{{cite news |title=Roberto Pereyra: Watford midfielder rejoins Udinese for undisclosed fee |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54330814 |access-date=28 September 2020}} After becoming a free agent in the summer of 2023 and missing the first games of the 2023–24 Serie A season, Pereyra returned to Udinese on a one-season contract on 11 September 2023.{{cite web|publisher=Udinese|url=https://www.udinese.it/news/squad/welcome-back-pereyra|title=Welcome back, Pereyra!|date=11 September 2023|access-date=12 September 2023}}
International career
Pereyra was selected to represent the Argentine under-20 football team at the 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup. He played all three group games at the tournament, helping Argentina defeat Mexico and North Korea and draw with England. He missed Argentina's 2–1 Round of 16 victory over Egypt through suspension, but returned to the starting line-up in the quarter-final clash against Portugal, which Argentina lost on penalty kicks after neither team could score during 120 minutes.{{cite web |url=https://www.juventus.com/en/news/news/2014/pereyra-proven-serie-a-quality.php |title=Pereyra, proven Serie A quality |publisher=Juventus F.C. |date=25 July 2014 |access-date=8 June 2019 }}
He made his senior debut for Argentina on Saturday 11 October 2014 in a 2–0 friendly match loss against Brazil played in Beijing, China after being called up by Gerardo Martino.{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/11155788/Argentina-v-Brazil-as-it-happened.html |title=Argentina v Brazil: as it happened |work=The Telegraph |last1=Bloom |first1=Ben |date=11 October 2014 |access-date=8 June 2019 }}
Pereyra was a part of the Argentina national team at the 2015 Copa América, winning a runners-up medal.{{cite web|url=http://www.juventus.com/en/news/news/2015/argentina-through-to-copa-america-final.php|title=Argentina through to Copa America final|publisher=Juventus.com|date=1 July 2015|access-date=16 May 2016}}
On 11 October 2018, Pereyra scored his first senior international goal for Argentina in a 4–0 friendly win over Iraq in Saudi Arabia.{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com.au/football/report?gameId=527224 |title=Argentina ease past Iraq as four players score first international goals |publisher=ESPN FC |date=11 October 2018 |access-date=8 June 2019 }}
On 21 May 2019, he was included in Lionel Scaloni's final 23-man Argentina squad for the 2019 Copa América.{{cite web |url=https://www.si.com/soccer/2019/05/21/argentina-copa-america-squad-roster-messi-aguero-dybala-scaloni |title=Messi Leads Argentina's Copa America Squad; Icardi Omitted |publisher=Sports Illustrated |author1=Avi Creditor |date=21 May 2019 |access-date=21 May 2019 }}
Style of play
Pereyra is a quick, dynamic, and hardworking player, who possesses notable stamina, pace, crossing ability, and vision, as well as good technique and dribbling skills.{{cite web|url=http://www.maidirecalcio.com/2015/04/09/lesplosione-di-pereyra-el-tucumano-al-servizio-della-juventus.html|title=L'esplosione di Pereyra: El Tucumano al servizio della Juventus|trans-title=Pereyra's Breakthrough: El Tucumano at Juventus's service|publisher=Mai Dire Calcio|author1=Cristiano Ciacci|language=it|date=9 April 2015|access-date=30 May 2015}} A creative, well-rounded and tactically versatile right-footed midfielder, who is capable of using either foot, Pereyra is able to play in several midfield and offensive positions, due to his adaptability, and energy, in addition to his offensive and defensive work-rate and attributes. He is usually deployed as an offensive midfielder in the centre, or as wide midfielder, on either flank, although his preferred position is on the left wing; he has even played as a second striker on occasion, or in a deeper role as a central midfielder. Due to his attributes, playing position and nationality, he was compared to the former Italo-Argentine Juventus winger Mauro Camoranesi during his time in Italy.{{cite web|url=http://www.tuttosport.com/calcio/serie_a/juventus/2014/07/25-301747/Pereyra,+colpo+da+17+milioni.+«Mi+ispiro+a+Camoranesi»|title=Pereyra, colpo da 17 milioni. "Mi ispiro a Camoranesi"|trans-title=Pereyra, 17 million deal. "I aspire to be like Camoranesi"|publisher=Tutto Sport|author1=Filippo Cornacchia|language=it|date=25 July 2014|access-date=30 May 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Serie-A/Juventus/20-03-2016/juve-buffon-nessun-record-figlio-un-singolo-dico-grazie-ad-ognuno-1401091941968.shtml|title=Juve, Buffon: "Nessun record è figlio di un singolo, dico grazie ad ognuno..."|publisher=La Gazzetta dello Sport|language=it|date=20 March 2016|access-date=20 March 2016}}
Career statistics
=Club=
{{updated|match played 23 August 2024}}{{cite news |url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/roberto-pereira/78933/ |title=Roberto Pereyra | website=Soccerway |access-date=20 January 2019}}
| 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{{efn|Includes Coppa Italia, FA Cup}} !colspan=2|League cup{{efn|Includes EFL Cup}} !colspan=2|Continental !colspan=2|Other !colspan=2|Total | |||||||||||
| Division||Apps||Goals||Apps||Goals||Apps||Goals||Apps||Goals||Apps||Goals||Apps||Goals | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| rowspan=4|River Plate
|rowspan=3|Argentine Primera División |1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 1 | 0 | |||
| 2009–10
|15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 15 | 0 | |||
| 2010–11
|27 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 27 | 0 | |||
| colspan=2|Total
!43 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 43 | 0 | |||
| rowspan=4|Udinese
|rowspan=3|Serie A |11 | 1 | 1 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 3{{efn|name=UEL|Appearances in UEFA Europa League}} | 0 | colspan=2|— | 15 | 1 | ||
| 2012–13
|37 | 5 | 1 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 8{{efn|Two appearances in UEFA Champions League, six appearances in UEFA Europa League}} | 0 | colspan=2|— | 46 | 5 | ||
| 2013–14
|36 | 2 | 4 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 3{{efn|name=UEL}} | 0 | colspan=2|— | 43 | 2 | ||
| colspan=2|Total
!84 | 8 | 6 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 14 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 104 | 8 | ||
| Juventus (loan)
|Serie A |35 | 4 | 4 | 2 | colspan=2|— | 12{{efn|name=UCL|Appearances in UEFA Champions League}} | 0 | 1{{efn|name=SCI|Appearance in Supercoppa Italiana}} | 0 | 52 | 6 | |
| Juventus
|Serie A |13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 2{{efn|name=UCL}} | 0 | 1{{efn|name=SCI}} | 0 | 16 | 0 | |
| rowspan=5|Watford
|rowspan=4|Premier League |13 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 13 | 2 | ||
| 2017–18
|32 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 34 | 5 | ||
| 2018–19
|33 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 36 | 6 | ||
| 2019–20
|28 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 32 | 5 | ||
| colspan=2|Total
!106 | 16 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 1 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 115 | 18 | ||
| rowspan=5|Udinese
|rowspan=4|Serie A |34 | 5 | 1 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 35 | 5 | |||
| 2021–22
|24 | 3 | 1 | 2 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 25 | 5 | |||
| 2022–23
|34 | 5 | 2 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 36 | 5 | |||
| 2023–24
|27 | 4 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 27 | 4 | |||
| colspan=2|Total
!119 | 17 | 4 | 2 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 123 | 19 | |||
| AEK Athens
|1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 1{{efn|Appearance in UEFA Conference League}} | 0 | colspan=2|— | 2 | 0 | ||
| colspan=3|Career total
!401 | 45 | 20 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 29 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 455 | 51 |
{{notelist}}
=International=
{{updated|match played 10 October 2019}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year | |||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| rowspan="6"|Argentina
|2014 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2015 | 6 | 0 | |
| 2016 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2017 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2018 | 3 | 1 | |
| 2019 | 6 | 1 | |
| colspan="2"|Total | 19 | 2 |
:Scores and results list Argentina's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Pereyra goal.
| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ List of international goals scored by Roberto Pereyra{{cite web|url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/player/57430/Roberto_Pereyra.html|title=Pereyra, Roberto|publisher=National Football Teams|access-date=15 October 2018}} | ||||||
| scope="col"|No.
!scope="col"|Date !scope="col"|Venue !scope="col"|Opponent !scope="col"|Score !scope="col"|Result !scope="col"|Competition | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| style="text-align:center"|1 | 11 October 2018 | Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | {{fb|IRQ}} | style="text-align:center"|2–0 | style="text-align:center"|4–0 | Friendly |
| style="text-align:center"|2 | 7 June 2019 | Estadio San Juan del Bicentenario, San Juan, Argentina | {{fb|NIC}} | style="text-align:center"|5–1 | style="text-align:center"|5–1 | Friendly |
Honours
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20120904001807/http://www.futbolxxi.com/Futbolista.aspx?ID=14073&SEOFutbolista=Pereyra+Roberto+Maximiliano Argentine Primera statistics]}} at Fútbol XXI {{in lang|es}}
- {{Soccerbase}}
{{AEK Athens F.C. squad}}
{{#invoke:navboxes|top
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{{Argentina squad 2015 Copa América}}
{{Argentina squad 2019 Copa América}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Pereyra, Roberto}}
Category:Argentine sportspeople of Italian descent
Category:Footballers from San Miguel de Tucumán
Category:Argentine men's footballers
Category:Argentina men's under-20 international footballers
Category:Argentina men's international footballers
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Men's association football forwards
Category:Club Atlético River Plate footballers
Category:Udinese Calcio players
Category:AEK Athens F.C. players
Category:Argentine Primera División players
Category:Premier League players
Category:Super League Greece players
Category:2015 Copa América players
Category:2019 Copa América players
Category:Argentine expatriate men's footballers
Category:Argentine expatriate sportspeople in Italy
Category:Argentine expatriate sportspeople in England
Category:Argentine expatriate sportspeople in Greece
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Italy
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in England