Brazilian midfielder Julio Baptista

Julio Baptista is a Brazilian footballer who is currently playing for the American "Orlando City". This year he turned 35, so that the player's career is nearing completion. Julio Baptista acts on the position of the attacking midfielder. However, he can play as a drawn forward and even move to the left flank of the attack.

Carier start

Julio Baptista was born on October 1, 1981 in Brazil, in the city of São Paulo. He was fond of football since childhood, so at the first opportunity he went to the academy at the local club of the same name, which at the same time is one of the strongest in the country. Until 1999, he studied at the academy, speaking for youth teams, until he was offered a professional contract. Naturally, he agreed and since 2000 began to protect the colors of the club.

In his first season, he spent not so many matches - only 19. But at the same time noted his first goal for the team. In the following seasons he already became a player of the basics and spent a total of 103 games for the "Sao Paulo", scoring 18 goals. In 2003, his consistently high level of play interested clubs from Europe. In the summer, the footballer's dream became a reality - he was invited to Spain's "Seville". Julio Baptista cost the club three and a half million euros.

Moving to Europe

Julio Baptista, whose photos immediately appeared on the covers of the leading sports publications, was really a great talent. In the first season he became a player of the base and beat 24 goals in 36 games. The following year, he was noted with 23 goals, which caused a real stir around his person. And in the summer of 2005, the inevitable happened - the leading clubs of Europe began to refer to Sevilla, but the race for Brazilian talent was won by Real Madrid, which paid twenty million euros.

Going to Real Madrid and renting in Arsenal

Unfortunately, this transition was a big mistake, since it was with him that the fall of talent from the pedestal began. In the "Real" Baptista often went on the field. He played 45 games for the season, but scored just 9 goals and disappointed the management. As a result, in 2006, he was leased to the London Arsenal. Here in 35 matches the athlete scored 10 goals.

When Julio returned to Real Madrid, the place at the base was no longer entrusted to him. But still on the field he went out quite often. In 31 matches, he scored just 4 goals, finally disappointing the leadership of the club in Madrid. As a result, in the summer of 2008, the player was sold to the Italian "Roma" for ten million euros.

A new beginning in "Roma"

Julio Baptista hoped to start a new life in "Roma". But there he was disappointed. In the first year he played 36 matches, scoring 11 goals, in the second - already 25 matches, marking with four balls. And in 2010, in general, went on the field only eight times in the first half of the season. As a result, in the winter of 2011 it was sold for two and a half million euros to the Spanish "Malaga".

The game for "Malaga"

However, the level of the player was already so low that even in the "Malaga" he did not get enough practice. For two and a half years the sportsman played only 33 matches, scoring 14 goals. When his contract with the club came to an end, the 32-year-old midfielder decided to return to his homeland.

Return to Brazil

In Brazil, the player signed a three-year contract with Cruzeiro. He fulfilled this contract until the very end. Footballer came on the field 36 times, scoring 12 goals. When his contract came to an end, he decided to make some money before the end of his career - went to the US, as many veterans of football do.

The last steps in "Orlando"

Baptista signed a contract with "Orlando City" until the end of 2016. During this time he played 24 matches, scoring 6 goals and giving 4 assists. Now his contract expires. It is likely that Julio Baptista will complete his professional career in the coming winter.

Personal life

About the personal life of the football player is not known very much. He had a long meeting with a girl named Silvia Nistal Calvo. In 2010, she married her. Now she is for Julio Baptista - a wife who loves and loves. The couple do not have children yet.