MAURO ZARATE PROFILE

MAURO MATIAS ZARATE born in Haedo Argentina 18 March 1987 is an Argentine footballer, currently playing for Italian side Lazio.

Zarate started his career with Vélez Sársfield in his native country, playing three years for the team and winning the Primera División title in the 2005 Clausura tournament. He later signed for Qatari side Al-Sadd in 2008, where he played only six months before transferring on loan to Birmingham City in England. However, after Birmingham was relegated, Zárate was loaned out again, this time to Lazio in Italy. With Lazio, the forward won the Coppa Italia during his first season. At the end of his debut season, his move to Lazio was made permanent for a fee of about €20 million, with a €60 million buy-out clause.

In international football, the Argentine played the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup, and won the competition scoring the decisive goal in the final.

Zarate was born in Haedo, Buenos Aires to a reasonably wealthy family with much footballing pedigree. His father Sergio is a former professional footballer, who played for Independiente de Avellaneda and A.C. Ancona. His mother, Catalina Riga, has Italian origins, with her family originating from Catanzaro in southern Italy. His grandfather Juvenal was Chilean and also a footballer.

Mauro is the brother of fellow footballers Rolando who currently plays for Huracán and Ariel of All Boys, as well as former international Sergio Zárate who currently acts as Mauro's agent.

MAURO ZARATE PROFILE

Full name: Mauro Matías Zarate
Date of birth: March 13, 1987
Place of birth: Haedo, Argentina
Height: 1.76 m (5 ft 9 1⁄2 in)
Playing position: Second striker / Winger

Club information
Current club: Lazio
Number: 10

Youth career
Vélez Sársfield

Senior career
2004–2007 Vélez Sársfield 99 (28)
2007–2009 Al-Sadd 6 (4)
2008 → Birmingham City (loan) 14 (4)
2008–2009 → Lazio (loan) 36 (13)
2009– Lazio 46 (6)

National team
2007 Argentina U-20 5 (2)