Diego_Pituca

Diego Pituca

Diego Pituca

Brazilian footballer (born 1992)

Diego Cristiano Evaristo (born 1 August 1992), known as Diego Pituca or simply Pituca, is a Brazilian footballer who plays for Santos. Mainly a defensive midfielder, he can also play as a left back.

Quick Facts Personal information, Full name ...

Club career

Early career

Pituca was born in Mogi Guaçu, São Paulo, and mainly represented Guaçuano and Itapirense as a youth. In 2011 he joined Mineiros, but failed to appear for the side during his spell.[2][3]

In 2011 Pituca returned to his native state, after agreeing to a contract with Brasilis.[3] He made his debut for the club on 7 May of that year by starting in a 1–0 Campeonato Paulista Segunda Divisão away loss against his first club Guaçuano,[4] and played his first campaign as a left back.[3]

On 11 January 2012, after being a regular starter for Brasilis, Pituca moved back to Mandi.[5] He only scored his first senior goal on 3 March of the following year, in a 2–2 home draw against Sertãozinho; thirteen days later, however, he netted a brace in a 4–1 home routing of Marília.

After two seasons as a starter, Pituca joined Matonense in April 2013.[6] On 28 May 2014, he was loaned to União São João until the end of the year's Paulistão Segunda Divisão.[7]

Botafogo-SP

Pituca during an interview with Botafogo-SP in 2017

Upon returning to Matonense, Pituca impressed enough for the side to secure a loan deal to Botafogo-SP on 19 May 2015, despite being relegated with his previous club.[8] He immediately became a starter at the side, helping in their Campeonato Brasileiro Série D winning campaign.

Pituca signed a permanent deal with Bota for the 2016 season, and remained a mainstay afterwards. On 17 November of that year, he renewed his contract until the end of 2018.[9]

Santos

Pituca representing Santos in 2018

On 29 May 2017 Pituca joined Santos, being initially assigned to the B-team.[10] The following 24 January, he was promoted to the first team by new manager Jair Ventura.[11]

Pituca made his first team – and Série A – debut on 14 April 2018, replacing Jean Mota in a 2–0 home win against Ceará.[12] He made his Copa Libertadores debut on 24 May, starting in a 0–0 home draw against Real Garcilaso.[13]

Pituca scored his first senior goal for Peixe on 23 September 2018, netting the opener in a 1–1 home draw against Vasco da Gama. Under new manager Cuca, he became an undisputed starter[14] and finished the campaign with 34 league appearances.

On 3 May 2019, Pituca renewed his contract until April 2023.[15] He remained a regular under subsequent managers Jorge Sampaoli and Jesualdo Ferreira, playing in a more advanced midfield role with the latter.[16]

On 10 November 2020, it was announced that Pituca and a further six first team players tested positive for COVID-19.[17]

Kashima Antlers

On 15 January 2021, Santos president Andrés Rueda announced the sale of Pituca to Japanese club Kashima Antlers.[18] Antlers confirmed the transfer six days later, with Pituca joining the club after the 2020 Copa Libertadores Final.[19]

Despite the J1 League season beginning in February, due to the COVID-19 pandemic Pituca was only allowed to enter Japan on April 2 and had to isolate for 14 days on arrival.[20] He eventually made his debut in the J.League Cup, coming on as a substitute in a 2–2 draw with Sagan Tosu.[21] He scored his first goal for Kashima in a 4-0 J1 League win over Consadole Sapporo.[22] He went on to make 37 appearances across all competitions in his debut season, scoring 2 goals.

Santos return

On 20 July 2023, Santos announced an agreement with Pituca for a four-year contract, effective on 1 January 2024, after his contract with Kashima expired.[23] On 31 December, Santos confirmed his return.[24]

Career statistics

Club

As of 27 April 2024.[25]
More information Club, Season ...
  1. Appearance(s) in Copa Paulista
  2. Appearance(s) in Copa Libertadores
  3. Appearance(s) in Copa Sudamericana

Honours

Club

Matonense
Botafogo-SP

Individual

References

  1. [1]
    "Diego Pituca" (in Japanese). Santos. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
  2. [2]
    ""Quero fazer história no Santos"" ["I want to make history at Santos"] (in Portuguese). Jornal Grande Jogada. 14 June 2017. Archived from the original on 14 July 2018. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
  3. [3]
    ""Meu sonho é ter a minha cara no muro do CT", por Diego Pituca" ["My dream is to have my face painted in the wall of the training ground", by Diego Pituca] (in Portuguese). Diário do Peixe. 15 October 2018. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
  4. [4]
    "Brasilis 0 x 1 Guaçuano - Mandi estreia com vitória na Segundona!" [Brasilis 0–1 Guaçuano – Mandi debut with victory in the Segundona!] (in Portuguese). Futebol Interior. 7 May 2011. Retrieved 28 May 2017.
  5. [5]
    "Guaçuano renova com metade do elenco do ano passado e contrata mais 12" [Guaçuano renew with half of the squad of the last year and sign another 12] (in Portuguese). Futebol Barretos. 11 January 2012. Retrieved 28 May 2017.
  6. [6]
    "Matonense apresenta elenco para a temporada" [Matonense present squad for the season] (in Portuguese). JC Matão. 19 April 2013. Retrieved 28 May 2017.[permanent dead link]
  7. [7]
    "União São João contrata meia que subiu com Matonense na Série A3" [União São João sign midfielder who was promoted with Matonense in the Série A3] (in Portuguese). Globo Esporte. 28 May 2014. Retrieved 28 May 2017.
  8. [8]
    "Bota-SP apresenta Francis, Samuel, Jardel e Diego Pituca nesta terça-feira" [Bota-SP present Francis, Samuel, Jardel and Diego Pita this Tuesday] (in Portuguese). Globo Esporte. 19 May 2015. Retrieved 28 May 2017.
  9. [9]
    "Diego Pituca renova contrato com o Botafogo-SP até o fim de 2018" [Diego Pituca renews contract with Botafogo-SP until the end of 2018] (in Portuguese). Globo Esporte. 17 November 2016. Retrieved 28 May 2017.
  10. [10]
    "Santos acerta a contratação de Diego Pituca, do Botafogo-SP" [Santos sign Diego Pituca, from Botafogo-SP] (in Portuguese). Esporte Interativo. 29 May 2017. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
  11. [11]
    "Diego Pituca é promovido ao profissional do Santos" [Diego Pituca is promoted to the professionals of Santos] (in Portuguese). Lance!. 24 January 2018. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
  12. [12]
    "Santos bate Ceará e volta a vencer em estreia de Brasileirão depois de 13 anos" [Santos defeat Ceará and is back to winning in debut after 13 years] (in Portuguese). Globo Esporte. 14 April 2018. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
  13. [13]
    "Santos empata com Real Garcilaso e vai às oitavas da Libertadores como líder do grupo" [Santos draw against Real Garcilaso and go to Libertadores' round of 16 as group leaders] (in Portuguese). ESPN Brasil. 24 May 2018. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
  14. [14]
    "Qualidade no passe torna Diego Pituca incontestável no meio-campo do Santos" [Passing quality makes Diego Pituca indisputable at Santos' midfield] (in Brazilian Portuguese). IG. 8 September 2018. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
  15. [15]
    "Santos anuncia renovação do contrato de Diego Pituca" [Santos announce Diego Pituca's contract renewal] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Globo Esporte. 3 May 2019. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
  16. [16]
    "Diego Pituca explica nova função, vê Santos 70% pronto e diz: "Quero ter a cara no muro"" [Diego Pituca explains new role, sees Santos 70% ready and states: "I want to have my face in the wall"] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Globo Esporte. 14 February 2020. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
  17. [17]
    "Nota Oficial" [Official note] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Santos FC. 10 November 2020. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  18. [18]
    "Presidente do Santos confirma venda de Diego Pituca para clube japonês" [Santos president confirms sale of Diego Pituca to Japanese club] (in Brazilian Portuguese). GloboEsporte.com. 15 January 2021. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  19. [19]
    "ディエゴ ピトゥカ選手が完全移籍で加入" [Diego Pituca joins with full transfer] (in Japanese). Kashima Antlers. 21 January 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
  20. [20]
    "ディエゴ ピトゥカ選手 入国のお知らせ | 鹿島アントラーズ オフィシャルサイト". 鹿島アントラーズ オフィシャルサイト | KASHIMA ANTLERS (in Japanese). Retrieved 31 December 2021.
  21. [21]
    "Sagan Tosu vs. Kashima Antlers - 28 April 2021 - Soccerway". uk.soccerway.com. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
  22. [22]
    "Kashima Antlers vs. Consadole Sapporo - 27 June 2021 - Soccerway". uk.soccerway.com. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
  23. [23]
    "Diego Pituca volta para o Santos FC" [Diego Pituca returns to Santos FC] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Santos FC. 20 July 2023. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  24. [24]
    "Diego Pituca confirma retorno ao Santos FC" [Diego Pituca confirms return to Santos FC] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Santos FC. 31 December 2023. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
  25. [25]
    Diego Pituca at Soccerway. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
  26. [26]
    "Paulista - Segunda Divisão - 2013" (in Portuguese). Federação Paulista de Futebol. 27 February 2017.
  27. [27]
    "Paulista - Segunda Divisão - 2014" (in Portuguese). Federação Paulista de Futebol. 27 February 2017.
  28. [28]
    "Corinthians, Jean Mota e Martinelli dominam premiação do campeonato" [Corinthians, Jean Mota and Martinelli dominate the tournament's awards] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Federação Paulista de Futebol. 22 April 2019. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
  29. [29]
    "Vice, Santos domina a seleção do Campeonato Paulista; Abel, do Palmeiras, é o melhor técnico" [Runners-up, Santos dominate the Campeonato Paulista Best XI; Abel, from Palmeiras, is the best head coach] (in Brazilian Portuguese). ge. 8 April 2024. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
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