Quick Facts
Biography
Roberto Jiménez Gago (Spanish pronunciation: [roˈβerto xiˈmeneθ ˈɣaɣo]; born 10 February 1986), known simply as Roberto, is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for RCD Espanyol as a goalkeeper.
Club career
Atlético Madrid
An Atlético Madrid youth graduate, Madrid-born Roberto played mainly for the B-side, only receiving the occasional call-up due to suspensions or injuries. After a plague of the latter, he made his first-team debut, playing in a 1–2 away loss against CA Osasuna.
In early July 2008, Roberto was deemed surplus to requirements and sold to fellow La Liga club Recreativo de Huelva as part of the deal that sent Florent Sinama Pongolle in the opposite direction – Atlético, however, had an option to rebuy. During his first year, which ended in relegation, he was restricted solely to appearances in the Copa del Rey.
On 13 July 2009, Roberto returned to Atlético after the payment of €1,250,000 to the Andalusians, penning a three-year contract. This happened after the simultaneous departures of Grégory Coupet and Leo Franco from the Colchoneros.
As first-choice Sergio Asenjo was summoned for the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup, Roberto was promoted to the starting XI, his first game being a 2–5 loss at FC Barcelona on 19 September. Shortly after he got injured and, when he returned, found himself third-choice behind Asenjo and youngster David de Gea; thus, in late January 2010, a loan to struggling Real Zaragoza was arranged until the end of the season– he relegated Juan Pablo Carrizo to the bench, helping the Aragonese finally escape relegation.
Benfica
On 25 June 2010, it was confirmed that S.L. Benfica signed Roberto for a fee of €8.5 million. In his first three official matches – the first against FC Porto for the season's Portuguese Supercup – his performances were poor overall, as the Lisbon club suffered three defeats and he conceded six goals; he was benched for the third Primeira Liga game of the season, at home against Vitória de Setúbal, but had to be brought in after Júlio César was sent off for a foul in the box at the 20-minute mark, and saved the ensuing penalty from Hugo Leal in an eventual 3–0 win.
At the end of 2010–11, Roberto fell out of favour at Benfica after the off-season signings of Artur and Eduardo.
Zaragoza return
On 1 August 2011, Roberto returned to Zaragoza, being transferred for a fee of €8.6 million in a purchase which was almost totally funded by a parent company of Zaragoza, who retained 99% of the player's economic rights. However, it was later reported that a football investment fund was involved in that deal.
In his first season in his second spell, he played all 38 league games as the team again avoided top flight relegation in the very last round. He again started in the 2012–13 campaign, but the club returned to the second level after a four-year stay.
Olympiacos
On 26 July 2013, Roberto returned to Atlético Madrid, signing a four-year contract after an arrangement with Benfica and being immediately loaned to Greek team Olympiacos FC. The transfer was questioned by the Portuguese Securities Market Commission, with Benfica explaining that BE Plan, the parent company who originally funded his transfer, defaulted on its obligations, so Zaragoza and Benfica agreed to revert the player's sporting and economic rights, with the latter immediately selling him to Atlético Madrid for €6 million.
On 5 November 2013, Roberto put on a Man of the match performance against his former club Benfica, in a 1–0 win in Piraeus for the season's UEFA Champions League. In February of the following year, Olympiacos and Atlético reached an agreement for a permanent €2.5 million transfer, and he signed a four-year contract with the former; prior the official announcement, news regarding the move were announced through the Karaiskakis Stadium loudspeakers during a match against Panionios FC.
On 22 October 2014, Roberto saved several shots in a 1–0 home win over Juventus F.C. for the Champions League, but his team eventually did not progress from the group stage.
Espanyol
On 22 June 2016, Roberto became new manager Quique Sánchez Flores' first signing at RCD Espanyol, penning a three-year contract for €3 million.
Club statistics
- As of 17 April 2016
| Club | Season | League | Cup | League Cup | Europe | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Atlético Madrid | 2004–05 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Atlético Madrid | 2005–06 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Atlético Madrid | 2006–07 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Gimnàstic (loan) | 2007–08 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 28 | 0 | |
| Recreativo | 2008–09 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| Atlético Madrid | 2009–10 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | |
| Zaragoza (loan) | 2009–10 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 15 | 0 | |
| Benfica | 2010–11 | 25 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 40 | 0 |
| Zaragoza | 2011–12 | 38 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 40 | 0 | |
| Zaragoza | 2012–13 | 33 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 33 | 0 | |
| Olympiacos (loan) | 2013–14 | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 6 | 0 | 29 | 0 | |
| Olympiacos | 2013–14 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | 11 | 0 | |
| Olympiacos | 2014–15 | 29 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 8 | 0 | 40 | 0 | |
| Olympiacos | 2015–16 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 8 | 0 | 36 | 0 | |
| Totals | 232 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 39 | 0 | 279 | 0 | |
Honours
- Atlético Madrid
- UEFA Europa League: 2009–10
- Benfica
- Taça da Liga: 2010–11
- Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira: Runner-up 2010
- Olympiacos
- Superleague Greece: 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16
- Greek Football Cup: 2014–15; Runner-up 2015–16
- "Roberto – Trophies". Soccerway. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
- "Olympiakos win Greek league for the fifth straight year". The Independent. 22 April 2015. Retrieved 22 April 2015.