Javier Balboa

Football player infobox
playername = Javier Balboa
fullname = Javier Angel Balboa Osa
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1985|5|13
cityofbirth = Madrid
countryofbirth = Spain
currentclub = SL Benfica
clubnumber = 11
height = height|m=1.82
position = Winger
years = 2004–2005
2005–2006
2006–2008
2006–2007
2008–
clubs = Real Madrid C
Real Madrid Castilla
Real Madrid
→Racing Santander (loan)
SL Benfica
caps(goals) = 34 (1)
28 (1)
7 (0)
30 (1)
1 (0)
nationalyears = 2007–
nationalteam = Equatorial Guinea
nationalcaps(goals) = 04 (0)
pcupdate = September 1, 2008
ntupdate = July 1, 2008

Javier Ángel Balboa Osa, Balboa (born May 13, 1985 in Madrid), is a Spanish-Equatorial Guinean football player, currently with Sport Lisboa e Benfica as a winger.

Balboa arrived at Real Madrid Castilla in the summer of 2005 after Juanfran left the B side on loan to RCD Espanyol. He settled down as a right-sided attacking midfielder, even though he missed a part of Castilla's season due to an injury and first team duty. Balboa still finished his first season with 28 appearances and one goal.

After having toured with the Real Madrid first team in its Austrian tour during the 2006-2007 pre-season, Balboa signed a one-year loan deal with Racing de Santander to gain first team experience, after being told he wasn't going to be part of the side's plans by then-coach Fabio Capello. He was an integral part of the Cantabrian side for the season's duration.

Balboa was praised by Capello's replacement, Bernd Schuster, upon his return from loan, and his contract was extended until 2011. During the 2007 preseason, he was played as a right and a left winger, and did well in various occasions, scoring against Lokomotiv Moscow.

Balboa came on in the second half of the UEFA Champions League home game against Olympiakos on 24 October, 2007 and during injury time scored his first Champions League goal after being set up by Robinho, in a 4-2 win. On December 19, he Balboa scored his first goal in the Spanish Cup, in a 1-1 draw against Alicante CF. On November 8, he came to blows with teammate Pepe during a training session. [ [http://www.marca.com/edicion/marca/futbol/1a_division/real_madrid/es/desarrollo/1056064.html Balboa and Pepe fight during training] es icon] Balboa would not be called-up for Real Madrid's next match, whereas the Portuguese centre back would.

On June 25, 2008, Balboa signed a four-year deal with S.L. Benfica for €4 million, as the Portuguese League outfit was managed by Quique Sánchez Flores. [ [http://www.uefa.com/footballeurope/news/kind=2/newsid=727327.html Lisbon giants move to strenghten] ]

International career

Balboa made his international debut with Equatorial Guinea on 2 June 2007, in a 2-0 loss to Rwanda.

References

External links

* [http://www.lfp.es/historico/primera/plantillas/historial.asp?jug=7606 Stats at Liga de Fútbol Profesional] es icon
* [http://www.realmadrid.com/cs/Satellite/en/1193041476158/1193041478214/jugador/Jugador/Balboa.htm Real Madrid profile]