# Nehuén Pérez

Patricio Nehuén Pérez (born 24 June 2000) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Primeira Liga club Porto, on loan from Serie A club Udinese, and the Argentina national team.

## Club career

Pérez joined Argentinos Juniors' system in 2007, after spells with La Quinta de Los Pibes and Unión de Tesei. He first appeared in the club's first-team squad under manager Alfredo Berti during the 2017–18 Argentine Primera División season which culminated with the defender making his debut in a Copa Argentina tie with Independiente de Chivilcoy on 9 May 2018. In July, Pérez was signed by La Liga's Atlético Madrid. He was immediately loaned back to Argentinos Juniors. Pérez was an unused substitute ten times in 2018–19, before making his league debut during a 2–1 defeat to Tigre on 12 November.
On 10 July 2019, Pérez joined the newly promoted Primeira Liga side Famalicão on a season-long loan. His opening appearance for them came in the Taça da Liga versus Covilhã on 3 August. He scored his first senior goal on 31 August, netting in a league victory away from home against Aves. He was named as the league's best defender for August. In total, Pérez appeared twenty-five times during his time with Famalicão as they placed sixth. He returned to his parent club ahead of the 2020–21 season, subsequently going unused on the bench for all three of Atlético's opening La Liga fixtures.
On 5 October 2020, Pérez was loaned to fellow La Liga side Granada. He made his debut on 25 October away to Getafe, which preceded his first UEFA Europa League appearances arriving on 5 November in Cyprus against Omonia.
On 28 August 2021, Pérez joined Italian side Udinese on a season-long loan. On 29 July 2022, he transferred to Udinese, signing a five-year contract.
On 30 August 2024, Pérez moved on loan to Porto, with an option to buy.

## International career

Pérez represented Argentina at U17 level, making four appearances at the 2017 South American U-17 Championship in Chile. He also trained with the senior squad in June 2017 and at the 2018 FIFA World Cup. In December 2018, Pérez was selected for the 2019 South American U-20 Championship. Fernando Batista called up Pérez for the subsequent 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Poland, where he scored once in three games. Batista also picked Pérez for the U23s in the succeeding September for a Bolivia friendly. Pérez received his first senior call for November 2019 friendlies with Brazil and Uruguay.

## Career statistics
### Club

    As of match played 20 February 2025
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | National cup | National cup | League cup | League cup | Continental | Continental | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Argentinos Juniors | 2017–18 | Argentine Primera División | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Atlético Madrid | 2018–19 | La Liga | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Atlético Madrid | 2019–20 | La Liga | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Atlético Madrid | 2020–21 | La Liga | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Atlético Madrid | Total | Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Argentinos Juniors (loan) | 2018–19 | Argentine Primera División | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Famalicão (loan) | 2019–20 | Primeira Liga | 23 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 25 | 1 |
| Granada (loan) | 2020–21 | La Liga | 11 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 0 |
| Udinese (loan) | 2021–22 | Serie A | 20 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 22 | 0 |
| Udinese | 2022–23 | Serie A | 34 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 36 | 4 |
| Udinese | 2023–24 | Serie A | 36 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 36 | 0 |
| Udinese | 2024–25 | Serie A | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 0 |
| Udinese | Total | Total | 92 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 97 | 4 |
| Porto (loan) | 2024–25 | Primeira Liga | 17 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 1 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 146 | 4 | 10 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 172 | 6 |
* 1 2 Appearances in UEFA Europa League

### International

    As of match played 19 November 2024
Appearances and goals by national team and year :
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
| Argentina | 2022 | 1 | 0 |
| Argentina | 2024 | 2 | 0 |
| Total | Total | 3 | 0 |

## Honours

Argentina U23
* Pre-Olympic Tournament: 2020
Individual
* Primeira Liga Defender of the Month: September 2019