Cristian Álvarez (footballer, born 1985)
Cristian Darío Álvarez Azad (born 13 November 1985) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays for Spanish club Real Zaragoza as a goalkeeper. Club career. Rosario. Born in General Lagos, Santa Fe, Álvarez came through the youth ranks at hometown club Rosario Central, making his first-team debut in a Copa Libertadores game against Paraguayan side Cerro Porteño on 23 February 2006, a 0–2 home defeat. He went on to fully establish himself as first , playing two seasons in the Primera División. Espanyol. In late May 2008, Álvarez joined Spanish team RCD Espanyol, signing a  five-year contract. He spent most of his spell with the Catalans restricted to Copa del Rey matches, being barred in La Liga by Cameroonian Carlos Kameni; his longest run in the latter competition came during the 2009–10 season as the starter had been selected to the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations and he played four matches, conceding as many goals in two wins, one draw and one loss. Álvarez was promoted to first choice for the start of the 2011–12 campaign by manager Mauricio Pochettino, with Kameni also still in Espanyol's roster. San Lorenzo. In the summer of  2013, he joined San Lorenzo de Almagro. He started his time there as a starter, but because of an injury and the good performances of his replacement, Sebastián Torrico, he was relegated to the bench. However, he was able to win the champion of the , playing 3 matches. In his second season at the club, he participated in several matches in the domestic tournament, mainly towards the season's end, when the team used a lot of substitutes because their main objective was the Copa Libertadores. Rayo Vallecano. In the middle of 2014, he was loaned to Rayo Vallecano, where  he would compete in the First Division of Spain. He played for only one season at Rayo. Cerro Porteno. He arrived at the Paraguayan club on loan for one year with an option to buy in June. With the club, he played the Clausura 2015 Copa MX tournament, the Apertura 2016 Copa MX Tournament and the 2016 Copa Libertadores. Zaragoza. After staying a year without a club, on August 3, 2017 he signed for Real Zaragoza as the club were in a quest to gain promotion to the First Division. He initially signed for one season with an option to  extend for two more years. The automatic renewal of his contract became effective upon exceeding 25 games played. On August 20, 2020, the club announced the extension of his contract for two more seasons, until June 2023. On April 30, 2021, he scored a headed goal from a free kick in the 97th minute in a match against Lugo. Honours. San Lorenzo