Carlos Diogo
Quick Facts
Biography
Carlos Andrés Diogo Enseñat (born 18 July 1983) is a Uruguayan professional footballer. A player of great physical strength, he operates as a defender or midfielder on the right side of the pitch.
He amassed La Liga totals of 120 games and six goals over the course of five seasons, representing in the competition Real Madrid and Zaragoza. He also played professionally, other than in his own country, in Argentina and Belgium.
Diogo appeared for Uruguay in two Copa América tournaments.
Club career
Diogo was born in Montevideo. He started his career with River Plate Montevideo and C.A. Peñarol, moving to Argentina's Club Atlético River Plate in the 2004–05 season.
In the summer of 2005, Diogo signed with Spanish giants Real Madrid as compatriot Pablo García, but found first team opportunities scarce. On 23 August 2006 the capital club decided to send him to fellow La Liga side Real Zaragoza on a season-long loan; in August 2007 the move was made permanent, but Madrid agreed to take just €3 million instead of the initial 4 million, inserting a clause in his contract that enabled a total refund of the money were a top class team to bid for his services.
On 6 January 2007, Diogo was involved in a fight with Sevilla FC's Luís Fabiano after apparently stepping on the Brazilian's hand and insulting him, which led to the latter putting the former in a strangle-hold in the closing stages of the game. This incident was punished with a five-game ban to both players.
Due to a serious knee injury, Diogo missed the entire 2008–09 campaign, with the Aragonese now in the second division. He underwent a second operation in April 2009, being sidelined for a further eight months.
On 12 December 2009, with Zaragoza back in the top level, Diogo returned to action with a goal, but in a 1–2 league home loss against Athletic Bilbao. The player still contributed with a further 14 matches, as the team managed to avoid relegation.
Diogo returned to full fitness in 2010–11, starting in all the league games he appeared in (2,950 minutes of play) as Zaragoza again narrowly escaped relegation. He left the club in July, after failing to negotiate a new deal.
Diogo signed a contract with PFC CSKA Sofia in mid-January 2012, but requested to leave the Bulgarian club after only 15 days, which was conceded. In late September he returned to active, signing with Zaragoza neighbours SD Huesca.
In June 2013, Diogo agreed to a one-year contract with Belgian Pro League club K.A.A. Gent, He was released in January of the following year.
International career
An Uruguayan international since 28 March 2003, playing nine minutes in a 2–2 friendly match with Japan in Tokyo, Diogo represented the nation at the 2004 and 2007 Copa América tournaments.
Personal life
Diogo is the son of Víctor Diogo, another Uruguayan footballer, who also played for Peñarol and with some Brazilian clubs.