From Real Madrid prodigy to Premier League record-breaker
In short: He arrived at Tottenham Hotspur for a staggering £26 million, shattering the club's transfer record. But the journey of Roberto Soldado was defined by more than just a price tag; it was a career of prolific Spanish scoring streaks, international honors, and a resilient return to the top flight.
Roberto Soldado’s career began in the prestigious Real Madrid youth system, where he joined at age 15 from CF Don Bosco. While his time with the first team was limited to 27 official appearances and four goals, his impact elsewhere was profound. After a successful loan at Osasuna, where he scored 13 goals, he became a clinical force in La Liga, particularly during his tenure at Getafe. There, he became the club's highest-ever top-flight scorer, surpassing legends like Dani Güiza.
His peak years saw him move to Valencia for €10 million in 2010, replacing the iconic David Villa. During this period, he demonstrated remarkable scoring versatility, including a four-goal haul against Racing Santander and a memorable hat-trick in the Champions League against BATE Borisov. His international career was equally notable; though he missed the Euro 2008 finals, he earned caps for Spain and competed in the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup, scoring in a victory against Uruguay.
The most scrutinized chapter of his career arrived in August 2013, when Tottenham Hotspur paid £26 million to secure his services, breaking their previous record set by the arrival of Paulinho. While his time in England was difficult—earning him a spot on a list of the Premier League's '10 worst buys'—Soldado proved his enduring quality upon returning to Spain. Playing for clubs like Villarreal and Granada, he continued to find the net, even scoring the first European goal in Granada's history in 2020, before retiring in 2023 at age 38.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Roberto Soldado
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