Javier Pastore

Javier Matías Pastore , born on June 20, 1989, is a skilled Argentine professional footballer renowned for his role as an attacking midfielder. Currently, he graces the field for the Qatar Stars League club Qatar SC.Pastore embarked on his club career with Talleres and later Huracán in his homeland, Argentina. The Serie A beckoned, and in 2009, he made the move to Palermo for a reported transfer fee of 4.7 million.His talents did not go unnoticed, as Paris Saint-Germain came calling in 2011, securing his services for a reported €39.8 million. Pastore enjoyed a prolific stint with the French side, claiming an array of domestic honors, including five Ligue 1 titles. In 2018, he took on a new challenge with Roma, making the switch for a fee of 24.7 million.On the international stage, Pastore marked his senior debut in 2010 and subsequently earned over 20 caps for Argentina. He graced the world stage at the 2010 FIFA World Cup and participated in three editions of the Copa América, playing a crucial role in Argentina's consecutive finals appearances in 2015 and 2016.


Born into an Italian-Argentine family hailing from Volvera, Turin, Javier Matías Pastore came into the world in Córdoba. His football journey commenced within the youth ranks of the Argentine club Talleres, where he diligently progressed through the ranks to earn a spot in the first team. Under the guidance of manager Ricardo Gareca, Pastore made his debut in the Argentine second division in 2007. However, his inaugural year saw him featuring in only five games, laying the foundation for what would evolve into a remarkable career.


In the 2008 season, Javier Matías Pastore embarked on a loan spell with Huracán in the Argentine Primera. His professional debut for Huracán took place on 24 May 2008, featuring in a closely contested 1–0 loss against River Plate. The 2009 Clausura championship marked a turning point for Pastore, as he solidified his position as a regular first-team player under the guidance of manager Ángel Cappa. This season proved to be his breakthrough, with notable performances that played a crucial role in Huracán's title challenge.


One standout moment was his exceptional display against River Plate, where Pastore showcased his skills by opening the scoring with a remarkable 25-yard shot. His individual brilliance extended further as he scored again, contributing significantly to Huracán's 4–0 victory – a historic win against River Plate spanning over six decades. Pastore concluded the season as the team's top scorer, tallying seven goals and three assists. His partnership with teammate Matías De Federico played a pivotal role in Huracán's impressive title pursuit during that campaign.


Palermo officially confirmed the acquisition of Javier Pastore for a five-year contract lasting until 30 June 2014. The transfer fee for the talented midfielder was reported to be around 4.7 million. Prior to joining Palermo, Pastore had drawn interest from several top European clubs, including Manchester United, Porto, Milan, and Chelsea.Pastore made his debut for Palermo on 15 August in the Coppa Italia, followed by his Serie A debut eight days later. His breakthrough moment occurred on 4 October against Juventus, where he contributed to Edinson Cavani's goal in a 2–0 victory, garnering attention across various websites and national newspapers. Scoring his maiden Serie A goal on 30 January 2010 in a 2–4 away defeat to Bari, Pastore, in his initial season with Palermo, showcased promise as an inexperienced youngster. During this period, he mostly featured as a second-half substitute under the management of Walter Zenga and later Delio Rossi.


Under Rossi's guidance, Pastore emerged as a regular starter, often playing in a position behind the striking duo of Fabrizio Miccoli and Edinson Cavani. His outstanding performances earned praise from fans and pundits alike, contributing to Palermo's fifth-place finish and qualification for the UEFA Europa League. In the 2010–11 season, Pastore achieved a significant milestone by scoring his first career hat-trick in a derby match against Catania on 14 November. The momentum continued, and on 30 July 2011, Palermo club president Maurizio Zamparini announced that a transfer fee had been agreed for Javier Pastore's move to Paris Saint-Germain.


On 6 August 2011, Paris Saint-Germain made an official announcement regarding the signing of Javier Pastore, assigning him the number 27 shirt. The transfer fee for the deal was €39.8 million. However, due to third-party ownership involving his agent Marcelo Simonian, who was set to receive €12.5 million (unclear whether it included agent fees), Palermo stated on its website that they received only €22.8 million of the total fee. Palermo club president Maurizio Zamparini initiated legal action despite the Italian Football Federation's (FIGC) prohibition of Italian clubs forming ownership agreements with third parties, acknowledging the risk of potential punishment.


Pastore netted his first Ligue 1 goal against Brest in a 1–0 victory on 11 September 2011. In his debut season at the Parc des Princes, he scored 13 goals in 33 league matches. The subsequent season saw Pastore's presence in 34 league matches as PSG secured the first of four consecutive Ligue 1 titles. He also marked his debut UEFA Champions League goal in a 4–1 triumph over FC Dynamo Kyiv on 18 September 2012.
During the 2014–15 campaign, Pastore made over 50 appearances, earning a spot in the UNFP team of the season, as PSG achieved an unprecedented domestic quadruple of Ligue 1, the Coupe de France, Coupe de la Ligue, and the Trophée des Champions.


Before the 2016–17 season, Pastore assumed the number 10 shirt from the departing Zlatan Ibrahimović, switching from the number 27. Despite injuries limiting his participation, he returned to the PSG starting lineup for Le Classique against Olympique de Marseille, contributing to a 5–1 Ligue 1 away victory on 26 February 2017. Three days later, he scored the opening goal as PSG defeated Chamois Niortias 2–0, advancing to the quarter-final stage of the 2016–17 Coupe de France. On 19 March 2017, Pastore provided assists for both goals in PSG's 2–1 Ligue 1 home win over Lyon.


In the 2017 Coupe de France Final on 17 May, Pastore appeared as a 72nd-minute substitute as PSG secured a 1–0 victory against Angers. Before the next season, he relinquished the number 10 jersey to new signing Neymar as a welcome gift, reclaiming his previous number 27 jersey.On 8 May 2018, Pastore came off the bench as PSG won 2–0 against Les Herbiers VF, securing the 2017–18 Coupe de France.

References

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6. ^ "PASTORE: DEPOSITATO IL CONTRATTO" (in Italian). US Città di Palermo. 11 July 2009. Archived from the original on 28 July 2009. Retrieved 11 July 2009.
7. ^ Richards, Joel (29 May 2009). "Maradona the only one still to be blown away by Huracán's Pastore". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 11 July 2009.
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11. ^ "UN PALERMO CHE INVESTE". US Città di Palermo (in Italian). 1 September 2011. Archived from the original on 14 January 2012. Retrieved 4 September 2011.
12. ^ "Regolamento Agenti dei Calciatori (2011)" [Football agent regulation] (PDF). FIGC (in Italian). 3 March 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 July 2012. Retrieved 4 September 2011.
13. ^ "PSG 1-0 Brest". SkySports. 11 September 2011.
14. a b "10 Pastore Javier". Paris Saint-Germain F.C. Archived from the original on 1 February 2017. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
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