# Álex Blanco (footballer, born 1998)

Alejandro "Álex" Blanco Sánchez (born 16 December 1998) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a winger for Slovenian club Olimpija Ljubljana.

## Club career
### Valencia Mestalla

Born in Benidorm, Alicante, Valencian Community, Blanco joined FC Barcelona's youth setup in 2014, from Valencia CF. On 22 July 2016, he returned to the Che, being assigned to the Juvenil A squad.
Blanco made his senior debut with the reserves on 16 September 2017, coming on as a second-half substitute in a 3–2 Segunda División B away win against Atlético Saguntino. He scored his first goal on 9 December, netting the equalizer in a 1–1 draw at CE Sabadell FC.
On 18 January 2018, Blanco renewed his contract with Valencia until 2020. On 4 February, he scored a brace in a 4–1 home routing of Saguntino.

### Deportivo Alavés

Blanco made his first team debut on 30 October 2018, replacing fellow youth graduate Lee Kang-in in a 2–1 away defeat of CD Ebro, for the season's Copa del Rey. On 31 January 2019, Blanco was loaned to fellow La Liga side Deportivo Alavés, until June.
Blanco made his top tier debut on 3 February 2019, replacing Jonathan Calleri in a 3–0 loss at Real Madrid. However, he only appeared in one further match before returning to his parent club.

### Real Zagaroza

On 9 July 2019, Blanco extended his contract with the Che until 2021 and joined Real Zaragoza on loan for the season. He scored his first professional goal the following 21 January, netting the opener in a 3–1 home win against RCD Mallorca for the national cup.

### Valencia

On 29 September 2020, Blanco started Valencia's opening game of the 2020–21 La Liga season away to Real Sociedad, in a 1–0 win. He scored his first goal in the top tier on 21 March of the following year, netting his team's second in a 2–1 home success over Granada CF.

### Italy

On 18 January 2022, he signed a contract with Italian Serie B club Como until the end of the 2023–24 season.
On 31 January 2024, Blanco signed with Reggiana until the end of the season, with an automatic extension for 2024–25 if Reggiana stays in Serie B.

### Olimpija Ljubljana

On 30 August 2024, Blanco signed a two-season contract with Olimpija Ljubljana in Slovenia.

## Personal life

Blanco's father Tito was also a footballer. A midfielder, he also represented Barcelona.

## Career statistics
### Club

    As of 27 January 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | National Cup | National Cup | Continental | Continental | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Valencia B | 2017–18 | Segunda División B | 30 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 30 | 6 |
| Valencia B | 2018–19 | Segunda División B | 21 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 21 | 5 |
| Valencia B | Total | Total | 51 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 51 | 11 |
| Valencia | 2018–19 | La Liga | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 0 |
| Valencia | 2020–21 | La Liga | 13 | 1 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 16 | 1 |
| Valencia | Total | Total | 13 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 1 |
| Alavés (loan) | 2018–19 | La Liga | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 0 |
| Zaragoza (loan) | 2019–20 | Segunda División | 30 | 2 | 3 | 1 | — | — | 1 | 0 | 34 | 3 |
| Como | 2021–22 | Serie B | 16 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 16 | 1 |
| Como | 2022–23 | Serie B | 29 | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 30 | 2 |
| Como | 2023–24 | Serie B | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 5 | 0 |
| Como | Total | Total | 50 | 3 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 51 | 3 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 146 | 17 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 156 | 19 |
* ↑ Appearance(s) in Segunda División play-offs

## Honours

Valencia
* Copa del Rey: 2018–19