Javi Villar

Javi Villar
Personal information
Full name Javier Villar del Fraile
Date of birth (2003-03-15) 15 March 2003 (age 21)
Place of birth Murcia, Spain
Height 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
Albacete
Number 18
Youth career
2010–2014 Azarbe
2014–2018 UCAM Murcia
2018–2019 Murcia
2019 Barcelona
2019–2021 Elche
2021–2022 Real Madrid
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2022–2024 Real Madrid B 20 (0)
2023–2024Unionistas (loan) 32 (1)
2024– Albacete 2 (0)
International career
2021 Spain U19 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21 November 2024

Javier "Javi" Villar del Fraile (born 15 March 2003) is a Spanish footballer who plays as a midfielder for Albacete Balompié.

Club career

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Born in Murcia, Villar began his career with hometown side AD Azarbe, and subsequently represented the youth sides of UCAM Murcia CF and Real Murcia CF before signing for FC Barcelona on 16 July 2019.[1] He was unable to be registered by the latter as they did not have any available spots and, after being offered to be loaned out, he left in September to join Elche CF.[2]

On 7 July 2021, Villar moved to Real Madrid's La Fábrica, being assigned to the Juvenil squad.[3] He made his senior debut with the reserves on 15 May of the following year, coming on as a late substitute for goalscorer Carlos Dotor in a 5–1 Primera División RFEF home routing of UE Costa Brava.[4]

Definitely promoted to Castilla for the 2022–23 season, Villar featured sparingly before being loaned out to fellow third division side Unionistas de Salamanca CF on 26 July 2023.[5] A regular starter for the side, he scored his first senior goal on 28 January 2024, netting the opener in a 3–0 home win over UE Cornellà.

On 8 July 2024, Villar signed a three-year contract with Segunda División side Albacete Balompié.[6] He made his professional debut on 2 November, replacing Lalo Aguilar in a 1–1 away draw against Racing de Santander.

International career

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In August 2021, Villar was called up to the Spain national under-19 team for two friendlies against Mexico.[7] He featured in both matches as Spain won 3–2 and 5–1.

Personal life

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Villar's older brother Gonzalo is also a footballer and a midfielder. He too was groomed at Elche.[8]

References

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  1. ^ "El murciano Javi Villar ficha por el Barcelona" [Murcian Javi Villar signs for Barcelona] (in Spanish). La Opinión de Murcia. 16 July 2019. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
  2. ^ "Javi Villar ficha por el Elche CF" [Javi Villar signs for Elche CF] (in Spanish). Rookie Soccer. 13 September 2019. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
  3. ^ "El Real Madrid ficha a Javi Villar para el Juvenil" [Real Madrid sign Javi Villar for the Juvenil] (in Spanish). Mundo Deportivo. 7 July 2021. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
  4. ^ "Javi Villar debutó con el Castilla" [Javi Villar debuted with Castilla] (in Spanish). ADN Blanco. 16 May 2022. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
  5. ^ "Javi Villar, cedido por el Real Madrid Castilla, nuevo jugador de Unionistas" [Javi Villar, on loan from Real Madrid Castilla, new player of Unionistas] (in Spanish). Salamanca Hoy. 26 July 2023. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
  6. ^ "Javi Villar, nuevo jugador del Albacete Balompié" [Javi Villar, new player of Albacete Balompié] (in Spanish). Albacete Balompié. 8 July 2024. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
  7. ^ "El murciano Javier Villar, hermano de Gonzalo Villar, va con la selección española sub-19" [Murcian Javier Villar, brother of Gonzalo Villar, goes with the Spain national under-19 team] (in Spanish). Murcia Plaza. 25 August 2021. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
  8. ^ "Javi Villar, algo más que el hermano de Gonzalo y su golazo con el Real Madrid" [Javi Villar, something more than the brother of Gonzalo and his great goal with Real Madrid] (in Spanish). El Español. 22 December 2021. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
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