Franco Emanuel Cervi (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈfɾaŋko emaˈnwel ˈseɾβi]; 26 May 1994) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a left winger or left wing-back for La Liga club Celta de Vigo.

Franco Cervi
Cervi playing for Benfica in 2016
Personal information
Full name Franco Emanuel Cervi
Date of birth (1994-05-26) 26 May 1994 (age 30)
Place of birth San Lorenzo, Argentina
Height 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in)
Position(s) Left winger/left wing-back
Team information
Current team
Celta
Number 11
Youth career
2001–2014 Rosario Central
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2014–2016 Rosario Central 42 (5)
2016–2021 Benfica 114 (11)
2021– Celta 86 (4)
International career
2018 Argentina 4 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 4 June 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 20 November 2018

Club career

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Rosario Central

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A product of Rosario Central's youth system, Cervi made his league debut on 9 November 2014 against Estudiantes in a 1–0 home win. He replaced Hernán Encina after 66 minutes.[1] On 14 February 2015, he scored his first league goal against Racing Club.[2]

On 25 February 2016, Cervi made his debut in the Copa Libertadores against Nacional. He scored his first international goal in a 3–1 win against River Plate.[3]

Benfica

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On 15 September 2015, Cervi signed a six-year contract with Portuguese champions Benfica with a release clause of €60 million.[4][5] He continued to play for Rosario Central until May 2016 and joined Benfica on 24 June for the pre-season.[6] On his debut for Benfica, he scored the opening goal in a 3–0 win over Braga in the Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira, on 7 August 2016, and was elected best player on pitch.[7]

On 29 December, Cervi became the first Benfica player to score in all Portuguese competitions in the same season – Supertaça, Primeira Liga, Taça de Portugal and Taça da Liga respectively. In addition, he also scored in the UEFA Champions League.[8]

Celta de Vigo

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On 5 July 2021, Cervi joined Celta de Vigo.[9]

International career

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Cervi was selected in Argentina's 35-man provisional squad for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro,[10] however he did not make the final 18-man squad for the tournament.

Cervi made his international debut for Argentina in a 3–0 friendly win over Guatemala on 8 September 2018.[11]

Personal life

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Cervi, who is of Italian descent, possesses an Italian passport.[12]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of match played 15 May 2024[13][14]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup League cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Rosario Central 2014 Argentine Primera División 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 0
2015 27 5 4 0 0 0 31 5
2016 12 0 0 0 10 2 22 2
Total 42 5 4 0 10 2 56 7
Benfica 2016–17 Primeira Liga 26 2 6 1 1 1 7 2 1[a] 1 41 7
2017–18 31 3 2 1 0 0 3 0 1[a] 0 37 4
2018–19 20 4 2 0 2 0 14 1 38 5
2019–20 16 2 5 1 0 0 6 1 0 0 27 4
2020–21 14 0 4 1 1 0 2 0 21 1
Total 107 11 19 4 4 1 32 4 2 1 164 21
Celta 2021–22 La Liga 33 4 3 2 36 6
2022–23 36 0 3 1 39 1
2023–24 17 0 2 0 19 0
Total 86 4 8 3 94 7
Career total 236 20 31 7 4 1 42 6 2 1 311 35
  1. ^ a b Appearance in the Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira

International

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As of 20 November 2018[14]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Argentina 2018 4 1
Total 4 1
Scores and results list Argentina's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Cervi goal.
List of international goals scored by Franco Cervi[15]
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 11 October 2018 Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia   Iraq 4–0 4–0 Friendly

Honours

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Benfica[14]

Individual

References

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  1. ^ "Estudiantes vs. Rosario Central - 9 November 2014 - Soccerway". soccerway.com. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
  2. ^ "Racing Club vs. Rosario Central - 14 February 2015 - Soccerway". soccerway.com. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
  3. ^ "River Plate vs. Rosario 1 - 3". soccerway.com. Retrieved 31 December 2015.
  4. ^ ""I'm very happy to come to such a big club"". S.L. Benfica. 23 September 2015. Retrieved 6 July 2016.
  5. ^ "Oficial: Franco Cervi assina pelo Benfica" [Official: Franco Cervi signs for Benfica]. Maisfutebol (in Portuguese). 14 September 2015. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  6. ^ ""Muita vontade que esta nova fase arranque"" [Looking forward for this new phase to start]. S.L. Benfica (in Portuguese). 24 June 2016. Archived from the original on 24 June 2016. Retrieved 6 July 2016.
  7. ^ a b c "Supertaça: Cervi eleito melhor em campo" [Super Cup: Cervi elected best player on pitch]. Maisfutebol (in Portuguese). 7 August 2016. Retrieved 19 October 2016.
  8. ^ "Cervi conseguiu feito inédito na Luz" [Cervi achieved unprecedented feat at Luz]. A Bola (in Portuguese). 31 December 2016. Archived from the original on 1 January 2017. Retrieved 31 December 2016.
  9. ^ "Franco Cervi becomes RC Celta's first signing 2021/22". Celta Vigo. 5 July 2021. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  10. ^ "Lista preliminar para Río", AFA, 24 May 2016
  11. ^ "Argentina vs. Guatemala - 8 September 2018 - Soccerway".
  12. ^ "Franco Cervi, non il solito funambolo argentino" [Franco Cervi, not the usual Argentine tightrope walker]. Sportreview (in Italian). 15 September 2015. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  13. ^ Franco Cervi at ForaDeJogo (archived). Retrieved 12 January 2017.  
  14. ^ a b c Franco Cervi at Soccerway. Retrieved 2 January 2017.  
  15. ^ "Cervi, Franco". National Football Teams. Retrieved 15 October 2018.
  16. ^ "Benfica conquista 26.ª Taça de Portugal e 11.ª 'dobradinha'" [Benfica conquer 26th Taça de Portugal and 11th 'dobradinha']. Jornal de Negócios (in Portuguese). 28 May 2017. Retrieved 28 May 2017.
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