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Francisco 'Fran' de Paula Cruz Torres (born 22 June 1991) is a Spanish footballer who plays as a central defender for Extremadura UD.
Club career
Born in Córdoba, Andalusia, Cruz finished his development with local Córdoba CF, making his senior debut with the reserves in 2008–09. His first competitive appearance with the first team took place on 6 January 2013, in a 0–0 away draw against CD Mirandés for the Segunda División.
Cruz played 32 matches during the 2013–14 season, in a promotion to La Liga after a 42-year absence. On 15 July 2014 he renewed his contract with the club for three seasons, and was immediately loaned to AD Alcorcón also in the second level.
In late August 2015, Cruz cut ties with Córdoba and moved to fellow league team UE Llagostera. He spent the following years in the same tier, representing Mirandés, Lorca FC and Extremadura UD, aside from a six-month spell at Miedź Legnica in the Polish Ekstraklasa.
Personal life
Cruz's younger brother, Bernardo, was also a footballer and a defender. Both were groomed at Córdoba.