Leonard "Leo" Saca (born 6 January 2007) is a Moldovan footballer who plays as a defender for Barcelona Atlètic and the Moldova national U21 team.

Leo Saca
Personal information
Full name Leonard Saca
Date of birth (2007-01-06) 6 January 2007 (age 17)
Place of birth Ialoveni, Moldova
Height 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Centre-back
Team information
Current team
Barcelona B
Number 40
Youth career
2013–2016 Zimbru Chișinău
2016 Barcelona
2017 Cerdanyola
2017–2018 Damm
2018–2020 Espanyol
2020– Barcelona
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2024– Barcelona B 0 (0)
International career
2022 Romania U15 4 (0)
2023– Moldova U21 7 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 11 October 2024

Early life

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Saca was born to a lawyer mother and businessman father.[1] He was nicknamed the "Machine".[2] He moved with his family to Spain in 2016.[3]

Career

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Saca debuted for the Moldova national under-21 football team during the 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification.[4]

Style of play

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Saca has been described as "developing as a central defender, but he can also do it very well as a left defender or closing midfielder".[5] He has received comparisons to Spain international Gerard Piqué.[6]

Personal life

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Saca holds both Moldovan and Romanian citizenships.[7]

References

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  1. ^ "Leo Saca: De Moldavia al Barça. La increíble historia del central más elegante de La Masia". sport.es. 28 November 2023.
  2. ^ "Leo, moldoveanul care va juca la FC Barcelona". ziarulnational.md.
  3. ^ "El zurdo de origen moldavo, Leonard Saca". futbolbasecatala.cat.
  4. ^ "Leo Saca face furori pe terenul de fotbal: Două goluri și un cartonaș roșu". stiri.md.
  5. ^ "Cine este Leonard Saca?". orangesport.ro. 27 August 2023.
  6. ^ "Es veloz, tiene presencia y un pie exquisito: Leo Saca". bitbol.la.
  7. ^ "Las joyas más internacionales que se están formando en la Masia". relevo.com. 8 March 2023.