# Rómulo Otero

Rómulo Otero Vásquez (born 9 November 1992) is a Venezuelan footballer who plays for Uruguayan club Nacional Montevideo. Mainly an attacking midfielder, he can also play as a winger.

## Early life

Otero is the son of former Colombian player Rómulo Otero Córdoba, and was born in Caracas during his father's stint at Anzoátegui [es]. His father died when he was three years old, and he started to live with another former footballer, Horacio "Chango" Cárdenas, in El Tigre.

## Club career
### Caracas

Otero joined the youth sides of Caracas FC at the age of 15, and made his senior debut on 3 September 2009, coming on as a second-half substitute for Jesús Gómez in a 1–1 Primera División away draw against Llaneros. He spent most of the campaign playing for the B-team in Segunda División, but featured in another two first-team matches.
Definitely promoted to the first team in 2010, Otero scored his first professional goal on 12 December of that year, netting the opener in a 3–0 away win over Zamora. He subsequently started to become a regular starter for the club, becoming one of their captains in 2013.

### Huachipato

In August 2015, Otero moved abroad and was loaned to Chilean club Huachipato until July 2016, with a buyout clause. He made his debut with the club on 8 August, replacing Mikel Arguinarena and scoring the equalizer in a 2–1 home win over Deportes Iquique.
In February 2016, Otero's buyout clause was activated by Huachipato, and he finished the season with eight goals in just 21 appearances.

### Atlético Mineiro

On 19 July 2016, Otero was announced at Série A side Atlético Mineiro on loan. He made his debut for the club on 4 August, replacing Robinho in a 2–1 away win over São Paulo, and scored his first goal in Brazil on 12 September, netting his team's second in a 3–2 away loss to Fluminense.
On 4 April 2017, Galo acquired 50% of Otero's economic rights for a rumoured fee of US$ 1.5 million, with the player signing a contract until 2020.

#### Loan to Al-Wehda

On 28 May 2018, after losing his starting spot, Otero joined Saudi club Al-Wehda on loan from Atlético. On 29 November 2018, the club expressed the intention of signing Otero on a permanent basis, but the deal ultimately did not go through.

#### Return from loan

Back to Atlético in July 2019, Otero featured regularly for the remainder of the year, but saw his playing time being drastically reduced in the 2020 season. In July 2020, however, his contract with Galo was renewed.

#### Loan to Corinthians

On 24 August 2020, Otero was loaned to fellow top tier side Corinthians until July 2021; he also became the first Venezuelan player to play for the club. He immediately became a starter for, but left on 1 July 2021 after losing his spot in the starting XI.

### Cruz Azul

On 3 August 2021, free agent Otero signed a one-year deal with Liga MX side Cruz Azul. He managed to start in only one league match for the club, and left after his contract expired.

### Fortaleza

On 2 July 2022, Fortaleza announced the signing of Otero until the end of the year. He scored once for the club, in a 1–1 home draw against Atlético Goianiense.

### Aucas

On 25 March 2023, Otero was announced at Aucas.

### Santos

On 29 December 2023, Otero returned to Brazil after being announced at Série B side Santos on a one-year contract. He made his debut for the club the following 20 January, replacing Pedrinho and scoring the winner in a 1–0 away win over Botafogo-SP.

### Nacional Montevideo

On 30 December 2024, Otero switched teams and countries again, after being announced at Nacional Montevideo in Uruguay.

## International career

Otero received his first call-up for the Venezuela national team on 9 March 2013, for two 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Argentina and Colombia. He made his full international debut thirteen days later, replacing Luis Manuel Seijas in a 3–0 loss against the former.
Otero scored his first goal for La Vinotinto on 10 September 2013, netting the third in a 3–2 win over Peru.

## Career statistics
### Club

    As of 26 November 2024.
| Club | Season | League | League | League | Cup | Cup | Continental | Continental | State League | State League | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Caracas B | 2009–10 | Venezuelan Segunda División | 12 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 12 | 4 |
| Caracas | 2009–10 | Venezuelan Primera División | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 0 |
| Caracas | 2010–11 | Venezuelan Primera División | 9 | 1 | — | — | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 10 | 1 |
| Caracas | 2011–12 | Venezuelan Primera División | 15 | 1 | — | — | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 17 | 1 |
| Caracas | 2012–13 | Venezuelan Primera División | 29 | 4 | — | — | 6 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 35 | 4 |
| Caracas | 2013–14 | Venezuelan Primera División | 30 | 6 | — | — | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 32 | 6 |
| Caracas | 2014–15 | Venezuelan Primera División | 22 | 8 | — | — | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 26 | 9 |
| Caracas | Total | Total | 108 | 20 | — | — | 18 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 126 | 21 |
| Huachipato | 2015–16 | Chilean Primera División | 21 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 23 | 8 |
| Atlético Mineiro | 2016 | Série A | 13 | 2 | 5 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 18 | 3 |
| Atlético Mineiro | 2017 | Série A | 28 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 13 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 55 | 14 |
| Atlético Mineiro | 2018 | Série A | 7 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 12 | 0 | — | — | 28 | 4 |
| Atlético Mineiro | 2019 | Série A | 20 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 27 | 3 |
| Atlético Mineiro | 2020 | Série A | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 1 | — | — | 7 | 2 |
| Atlético Mineiro | Total | Total | 68 | 14 | 19 | 5 | 16 | 2 | 30 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 135 | 26 |
| Al-Wehda (loan) | 2018–19 | Saudi Pro League | 25 | 5 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 27 | 5 |
| Corinthians (loan) | 2020 | Série A | 24 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 24 | 2 |
| Corinthians (loan) | 2021 | Série A | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 11 | 1 | — | — | 17 | 2 |
| Corinthians (loan) | Total | Total | 24 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 11 | 1 | — | — | 41 | 4 |
| Cruz Azul | 2021–22 | Liga MX | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | — | — | 1 | 0 | 16 | 1 |
| Fortaleza | 2022 | Série A | 7 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 9 | 1 |
| Aucas | 2023 | Ecuadorian Serie A | 25 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 31 | 4 |
| Santos | 2024 | Série B | 37 | 5 | — | — | — | — | 14 | 3 | — | — | 51 | 8 |
| Nacional Montevideo | 2025 | Uruguayan Primera División | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 338 | 61 | 26 | 6 | 49 | 6 | 55 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 471 | 82 |
* 1 2 3 4 5 6 Appearance(s) in Copa Libertadores
* 1 2 3 4 5 6 Appearance(s) in Copa Sudamericana
* 1 2 3 Appearance(s) in Campeonato Mineiro
* ↑ Appearance(s) in Primeira Liga
* 1 2 Appearance(s) in Campeonato Paulista
* ↑ Appearance(s) in CONCACAF Champions Cup
* ↑ Appearance(s) in Campeones Cup

### International

    As of match played 16 November 2023
Appearances and goals by national team and year :
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
| Venezuela | 2013 | 4 | 1 |
| Venezuela | 2014 | 3 | 1 |
| Venezuela | 2015 | 2 | 0 |
| Venezuela | 2016 | 11 | 3 |
| Venezuela | 2017 | 6 | 1 |
| Venezuela | 2018 | 3 | 0 |
| Venezuela | 2019 | 4 | 0 |
| Venezuela | 2020 | 4 | 0 |
| Venezuela | 2021 | 5 | 0 |
| Venezuela | 2022 | 3 | 0 |
| Venezuela | 2023 | 4 | 0 |
| Total | Total | 49 | 6 |

### International goals

| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
| 1. | 10 September 2013 | Estadio José Antonio Anzoátegui, Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela | Peru | 3–1 | 3–2 | 2014 World Cup qualification |
| 2. | 5 March 2014 | Estadio Olímpico Metropolitano, San Pedro Sula, Honduras | Honduras | 1–1 | 2–1 | Friendly |
| 3. | 24 March 2016 | Estadio Nacional, Lima, Peru | Peru | 1–0 | 2–2 | 2018 World Cup qualification |
| 4. | 29 March 2016 | Estadio Agustín Tovar, Barinas, Venezuela | Chile | 1–0 | 1–4 | 2018 World Cup qualification |
| 5. | 10 November 2016 | Estadio Monumental de Maturín, Maturín, Venezuela | Bolivia | 5–0 | 5–0 | 2018 World Cup qualification |
| 6. | 23 March 2017 | Estadio Monumental de Maturín, Maturín, Venezuela | Peru | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2018 World Cup qualification |

## Honours
### Caracas

* Venezuelan Primera División: 2009–10

### Atlético Mineiro

* Campeonato Mineiro: 2017

### Santos

* Campeonato Brasileiro Série B: 2024

### Individual

* Saudi Professional League Player of the Month: October 2018