A quick, agile striker with a nose for goal, Javier Saviola came to Barça at just 19 years of age from Argentine club River Plate. He spent four seasons with the Club separated by loan spells at Monaco and Sevilla. In 2007 he left to join Real Madrid before finally retiring at the club where he began his career in Buenos Aires, River Plate.

Full biography:

Javier Saviola was still just a teenager when he joined FC Barcelona from River Plater in the summer of 2001. In his first season he scored 21 goals playing alongside the likes of Patrick Kluivert and Rivaldo up front in a side that reached the semi-finals of the Champions League. The following season was not as successful for the Club or the Argentine with Radomir Antic taking over mid-campaign as coach from Louis Van Gaal. Frank Rijkaard arrived in 2003 and Saviola featured prominently in the Dutchman’s first season in charge.

However, the arrival of Samuel Eto’o in 2004 meant that the Argentine had to leave on loan to French club Monaco in search of more playing time. The following campaign was also spent on loan, this time with Spanish club Sevilla, with Saviola helping them claim the UEFA Cup title. After a season in 2006/07 mainly spent on the bench, the striker decided to leave for Real Madrid in the summer of 2007. A spell at Benfica followed and then Málaga. Olympiacos and Verona before he finally hung up his boots in 2015 with River Plate back in his native Argentina.

Honours

Spanish Super Cup (2006)

Olympic gold medal (Athens 2004)

40 caps for Argentina