Baltasar Rodríguez

Baltasar Rodríguez
Personal information
Full name Baltasar Luis Gallego Rodríguez
Date of birth (2003-07-09) 9 July 2003 (age 21)
Place of birth Monte Hermoso, Argentina
Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
Racing Club
Number 22
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2023– Racing Club 44 (6)
International career
2024– Argentina U23 5 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 19:35, 27 October 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 13:00, 2 September 2024 (UTC)

Baltasar Luis Gallego Rodríguez (born 9 July 2003) is an Argentine footballer who plays as a midfielder for Racing Club de Avellaneda.

Club career

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Born in Monte Hermoso in Buenos Aires Province,[1] Rodríguez joined the youth ranks of Racing Club de Avellaneda from his hometown club in 2019.[2] His agent is Robert Pires, 1998 FIFA World Cup champion with the France national football team.[3]

In August 2022, Rodríguez signed his first professional contract to tie himself to Racing until the end of 2026, with a release clause of €20 million.[4] He made his debut in the Argentine Primera División on 8 May 2023 in a 4–2 home loss to Talleres de Córdoba; he came on as a 55th-minute substitute for Gabriel Hauche and became the first top-flight player from his town.[1] His continental bow came on 8 June in a 2–1 Copa Libertadores group loss to Flamengo in the Maracanã Stadium.[5] On 19 August he started the game away to Unión de Santa Fe and scored his first goal to open a 1–1 draw for the club managed by Fernando Gago.[6] He finished his first season with five goals.[7]

On 20 August 2024, Rodríguez scored his first continental goal to start a 6–1 win over Chile's Huachipato FC at the Estadio Presidente Juan Domingo Perón, putting his side into the quarter-finals 8–1 on aggregate.[8]

International career

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Rodríguez was part of the Argentina national under-23 football team at the 2024 CONMEBOL Pre-Olympic Tournament. He played five games as the team won their group, scoring to begin a 3–3 draw with Uruguay on 2 February.[9]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Baltasar Rodríguez, primer futbolista montermoseño en jugar en Primera de AFA" [Baltasar Rodríguez, first footballer from Monte Hermoso to play in the AFA Primera División] (in Spanish). La Brújula 24. 10 May 2023. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
  2. ^ Maderna, Hernando (29 March 2023). "El pibe de Racing que puede reemplazar a Carbonero" [The Racing lad who could replace Carbonero]. Olé (in Spanish). Retrieved 2 September 2024.
  3. ^ Grazioli, Gustavo (7 March 2022). "Robert Pires: "Los jugadores de acá tienen calidad"" [Robert Pires: "The players here have quality"]. Página 12 (in Spanish). Retrieved 2 September 2024.
  4. ^ "Otro mojón en la carrera de Baltasar Rodríguez: firmó su primer contrato profesional" [Another milestone in the career of Baltasar Rodríguez: he signed his first professional contract] (in Spanish). Noticias Monte Hermoso. 6 August 2022. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
  5. ^ "Debut internacional. Baltasar Rodríguez jugó en el Maracaná de Río de Janeiro por la Libertadores" [International debut. Baltasar Rodríguez played in the Maracanã in Rio de Janeiro for the Libertadores] (in Spanish). Noticias Monte Hermoso. 9 June 2023. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
  6. ^ "La alegría de Baltasar Rodríguez por su primer gol en Racing" [Baltasar Rodríguez's joy for his first goal for Racing] (in Spanish). La Brújula 24. 19 August 2024. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
  7. ^ Maderna, Hernando (14 February 2024). "Baltasar no descansa y estará en Racing vs Godoy Cruz" [Baltasar does not rest and will be in Racing vs Godoy Cruz]. Olé (in Spanish). Retrieved 2 September 2024.
  8. ^ "Racing golea a Huachipato y se clasifica a los cuartos de final" [Racing thrash Huachipato and qualify for the quarter-finals]. D10 (in Spanish). 20 August 2024. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
  9. ^ "La ráfaga de goles en el empate entre la Selección Argentina Sub 23 y Uruguay" [The burst of goals in the draw between the Argentina under-23 national team and Uruguay] (in Spanish). TyC Sports. 3 February 2024. Retrieved 2 September 2024.