Carlos Soler Explained

Carlos Soler
Full Name:Carlos Soler Barragán[1]
Birth Date:2 January 1997
Birth Place:Valencia, Spain
Height:1.80 m[2]
Position:Midfielder
Currentclub:Paris Saint-Germain
Clubnumber:28
Youthyears1:2001–2005
Youthclubs1:Bonrepòs
Youthyears2:2005–2015
Youthclubs2:Valencia
Years1:2015–2016
Clubs1:Valencia B
Caps1:39
Goals1:3
Years2:2016–2022
Clubs2:Valencia
Caps2:182
Goals2:31
Years3:2022–
Clubs3:Paris Saint-Germain
Caps3:50
Goals3:5
Nationalyears1:2016
Nationalteam1:Spain U19
Nationalcaps1:3
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2017–2019
Nationalteam2:Spain U21
Nationalcaps2:20
Nationalgoals2:4
Nationalyears3:2021
Nationalteam3:Spain Olympic
Nationalcaps3:7
Nationalgoals3:1
Nationalyears4:2021–
Nationalteam4:Spain
Nationalcaps4:14
Nationalgoals4:4
Club-Update:23:15, 19 May 2024 (UTC)
Nationalteam-Update:20:21, 6 December 2022 (UTC)

Carlos Soler Barragán (born 2 January 1997) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain and the Spain national team.

Soler began his professional career at Valencia, making 226 appearances, scoring 36 goals and winning the Copa del Rey in 2019. He joined Paris Saint-Germain in 2022 for an €18 million fee, and won Ligue 1 in his first two seasons.

Internationally, Soler won a silver medal with the Spanish Olympic team in the 2020 tournament. He made his senior debut in 2021 and was chosen for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Club career

Early career

Born in Valencia, Soler was first introduced to football by taking shots at half-time at the age of four during games for Bonrepòs, his brother's team. Impressed by his power, the club wanted him; he was initially too shy and only joined when his grandfather gave him a Game Boy for attending.[3] He joined hometown club Valencia's youth setup four years later in 2005, initially as a prolific striker, but later being pushed back to be an attacking midfielder and then a central midfielder.[4]

Valencia

Soler made his senior debut with the reserves on 3 May 2015, starting in a 1–0 Segunda División B away loss against Cornellà.[5] He scored his first senior goal on 13 December, netting his team's second in a 2–2 draw at Badalona.[6] The following 12 March he renewed his contract for two more years with the option of as many more,[7] and was an unused substitute in the main squad's 2–1 home win against Athletic Bilbao for the season's UEFA Europa League.[8]

On 10 December 2016 Soler made his first team – and La Liga – debut, replacing Mario Suárez in a 3–2 loss against Real Sociedad at the Anoeta Stadium.[9] He scored his first goal in the category the following 21 January, netting the first in a 2–0 Valencian Community derby win against Villarreal at the Estadio de la Cerámica.[10] He was sent off on 4 February in a 4–0 loss to Eibar at the Mestalla Stadium for a tussle with Gonzalo Escalante during a corner kick routine, conceding a penalty.[11]

In January 2018, Soler signed his third new contract with Valencia in little over a year, tying him to the club until 2021 and increasing his release clause to €80 million.[12] He totalled 51 appearances in 2018–19, including 13 in his debut European season in the UEFA Champions League and Europa League; he scored in group-stage wins over Young Boys and Manchester United in the former.[13] [14] He played seven games in the season's Copa del Rey as Valencia won their first honour for 11 years, and assisted Rodrigo's winner in the 2–1 final victory over Barcelona on 25 May 2019.[15]

On 17 December 2019, Soler signed a four-year contract extension, keeping him at the club until 2023, with his release clause set at €150 million.[16] The following 8 November, he scored the first hat-trick of his career in a 4–1 league win over Real Madrid, with all three goals coming from penalties; only two La Liga players had ever scored such a treble before.[17] He finished 2020–21 as Valencia's top scorer with 12 goals, all bar one in the league season and seven from the spot.[18]

In 2021–22, Soler was again Valencia's league top scorer with 11, joint with Gonçalo Guedes.[19] In the Copa del Rey, he played six games and scored the opener in a 2–1 win at Cartagena in the last 32 on 5 January;[20] he featured for all 120 minutes of the final against Real Betis and scored the first attempt in a penalty shootout that his team lost.[21]

Paris Saint-Germain

On 1 September 2022, Soler signed for Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) on a five-year contract. The initial transfer fee was €18 million, potentially rising by €3 million.[22] He made his debut five days later as a late-match substitute in a 2–1 Champions League home win over Juventus,[23] and on 18 September he played his first league game off the bench in a 1–0 win at Lyon.[24]

Soler scored his first goal for PSG on 25 October 2022, concluding a 7–2 Champions League win against Maccabi Haifa at the Parc des Princes. He went on to start in the final group stage match against Juventus, a 2–1 victory; however, PSG lost out on top spot to Benfica.[25] [26] On 29 October, he scored his first Ligue 1 goal to open PSG's account in a 4–3 home win over Troyes, while also winning a penalty that Kylian Mbappé scored.[27] He finished his first season as a Ligue 1 champion.[28]

In 2023-24, Soler was often a substitute under compatriot manager Luis Enrique, who had played him fairly regularly in the Spain national team.[29] [30] [31]

International career

Soler was part of the Spanish Olympic team that took part in the delayed 2020 tournament in Japan, finishing with a silver medal.[32] Later in August 2021, he was called up to the senior team for matches against Sweden, Georgia and Kosovo.[33] He made his debut on 2 September away to the Swedes, scoring a volley after four minutes in a 2–1 loss,[34] and three days later he netted again in a 4–0 win over Georgia in Badajoz.[35]

Luis Enrique called Soler up for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.[36] On 23 November, in Spain's opener against Costa Rica, he came on for Pedri after 57 minutes and scored in a 7–0 victory.[37] In the last 16 against Morocco, he came off the bench in a goalless draw before having his attempt saved by Yassine Bounou in a penalty shootout defeat.[38]

Personal life

Soler started a degree in sports journalism, which he did not finish. He regularly watched the Premier League on Canal+ as a child and learned the English language.[3]

Career statistics

Club

[39]

Club!rowspan="2"
SeasonLeagueCupEuropeOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Valencia B2014–15Segunda División B2020
2015–16Segunda División B282282
2016–17Segunda División B9191
Total393393
Valencia2016–17La Liga23330263
2017–18La Liga33140371
2018–19La Liga31270132514
2019–20La Liga282305110373
2020–21La Liga3211213412
2021–22La Liga3211613812
2022–23La Liga31000031
Total182312521831022636
Paris Saint-Germain2022–23Ligue 12633261356
2023–24Ligue 1242202000282
Total505528100638
Career total271393042641032847

International

[40]

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Spain202142
2022102
Total144

Scores and results list Spain's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Soler goal.[40]

List of international goals scored by Carlos Soler
No.DateVenueCapOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1 2 September 2021 Friends Arena, Solna, Sweden 1 1–0 1–2 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
2 5 September 2021 Nuevo Vivero, Badajoz, Spain 2 2–0 4–02022 FIFA World Cup qualification
3 12 June 2022 La Rosaleda, Málaga, Spain 9 1–0 2–0 2022–23 UEFA Nations League A
align=center 4 23 November 2022 Al Thumama Stadium, Doha, Qatar align=center 13 align=center 6–0 7–0 2022 FIFA World Cup

Honours

Valencia

2018–19[41]

Paris Saint-Germain

2022–23,[28] 2023–24[42]

2023–24[43]

2023[44]

Spain U21

2019;[45] runner-up: 2017[46] [47]

Spain U23

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Squad List: Men's Olympic Football Tournament Tokyo 2020: Spain (ESP) . FIFA . 16 . 22 July 2021 . 29 August 2021.
  2. Web site: FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™: List of Players: Spain . FIFA . 27 . 15 November 2022 . 22 November 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221218195301/https://fdp.fifa.org/assetspublic/ce44/pdf/SquadLists-English.pdf . 18 December 2022 . live .
  3. News: Lowe . Sid . Valencia's Carlos Soler: 'You're comparing me to Cazorla, Mata and Silva? Nah' . 26 May 2022 . . 22 April 2022.
  4. Web site: Carlos Soler, el futbolista total. Carlos Soler, the complete footballer. Diario de Mestalla. es. 22 June 2015. 22 December 2016.
  5. Web site: El Valencia Mestalla se aprieta en la clasificación. Valencia Mestalla tighten up on the table. Vavel. es. 3 May 2015. 22 December 2016.
  6. Web site: Tablas entre Badalona y Valencia Mestalla. Draw between Badalona and Valencia Mestalla. LaSegundaB. es. 13 December 2015. 22 December 2016. 30 June 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170630042452/http://www.lasegundab.es/blog/2015/12/13/tablas-entre-badalona-y-valencia-mestalla-43026.html. dead.
  7. Web site: El Valencia renueva a Carlos Soler, su gran promesa. Valencia renew Carlos Soler, their great prospect. Levante-EMV. es. 12 March 2016. 22 December 2016.
  8. News: Bryan . Mark . Gary Neville sent to the stands as Valencia crash out to Bilbao . 16 November 2020 . . 18 March 2016.
  9. Web site: Ni caso a Prandelli. Not even Prandelli. Marca. es. 10 December 2016. 22 December 2016.
  10. News: La Liga: Valencia beat Villarreal to ease La Liga relegation worries . 16 November 2020 . . 21 January 2017.
  11. News: Soler sent off for Valencia after reacting to being attacked . 16 November 2020 . . 4 February 2017 . 1 July 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190701234532/https://en.as.com/en/2017/02/04/football/1486243095_410842.html . dead .
  12. News: Carlos Soler amplía su contrato hasta 2021 y sube su cláusula a 80 millones. Carlos Soler extends his contract to 2021 and increases his release clause to 80 million . 16 November 2020 . . 16 May 2017 . es.
  13. News: Soler stars as Valencia boost Champions League last-16 hopes . 16 November 2020 . . 7 November 2018.
  14. News: Dawson . Rob . Fred, Phil Jones fall flat as Man United squander opportunity to win Group H at Valencia . 16 November 2020 . . 12 December 2018.
  15. News: Gameiro and Rodrigo on target as Valencia edge Barcelona to win Copa del Rey . 16 November 2020 . . 25 May 2019.
  16. Web site: Soler renews with Valencia and his release clause goes up. 17 December 2019. Marca. 19 December 2019.
  17. Web site: Valencia 4-1 Real Madrid: Carlos Soler scores a hat-trick of penalties. 8 November 2020. BBC Sport. 8 November 2020.
  18. News: Calabuig . Pascu . Carlos Soler, a la altura de la historia. Carlos Soler, equalling history . 26 May 2022 . . 18 May 2021 . Spanish.
  19. News: Benzema toma el relevo de Messi como máximo goleador de la liga española. Benzema replaces Messi as top scorer in the Spanish league. 26 May 2022 . Pulso . 22 May 2022 . Spanish.
  20. News: 1-2. El Valencia sufre para ganar con un gol de Cheryshev en el minuto 93 . 1.2. Valencia suffer to win with a goal by Cheryshev in the 93rd minute. 26 May 2022 . . 5 January 2022 . Spanish.
  21. News: Real Betis beat Valencia to lift Copa Del Rey trophy . 26 May 2022 . . 25 April 2022.
  22. Web site: 1 September 2022 . Official PSG sign Valencia midfielder Carlos Soler on a 5-year deal . 6 September 2022 . Get French Football News.
  23. Web site: 6 September 2022 . Debut for Carlos Soler . 6 September 2022 . Paris Saint-Germain F.C..
  24. News: OL - PSG, le résumé du match. OL - PSG, match report. 15 October 2022 . . 18 September 2022 . French.
  25. News: Marzal . Miguel . Polémicas declaraciones de Mbappé sobre Carlos Soler. Mbappé's controversial remarks about Carlos Soler . 17 July 2023 . Levante-EMV . 3 November 2022 . Spanish.
  26. News: Mbappe takes a shot at Carlos Soler: He's no Neymar, but PSG did all we could . 17 July 2023 . Marca . 3 November 2022.
  27. News: Opoczynski . David . Carlos Soler après la victoire difficile du PSG contre Troyes (4-3) : «Ça montre que nous avons du caractère ». Carlos Soler after PSG's difficult victory against Troyes (4-3): "It shows that we have character" . 17 July 2023 . Le Parisien . 29 October 2022 . French.
  28. Web site: 2023-05-27 . PSG clinches record-breaking 11th French Ligue 1 title . 2023-08-27 . France 24.
  29. News: Ayala . Wilmer . Carlos Soler humillado en el banquillo del PSG. Carlos Soler humiliated on the PSG bench . 12 May 2024 . El Gol Digital . 2 May 2024 . Spanish.
  30. News: El jugador desaprovechado por Luis Enrique. The player disapproved of by Luis Enrique . 12 May 2024 . Sport . 18 October 2023 . Spanish.
  31. News: Tres equipos de LaLiga se disputan el fichaje de Carlos Soler en el mercado invernal. Three LaLiga teams fighting each other for the signing of Carlos Soler in the winter transfer window . 12 May 2024 . La Razón . 27 December 2023 . Spanish.
  32. News: At 38, Alves helps Brazil to soccer gold by beating Spain . 30 August 2021 . . 7 August 2021.
  33. News: McDougall . Andrew . Luis Enrique: I would love Guardiola to coach Spain . 30 August 2021 . Marca . 26 August 2021.
  34. News: Sweden 2 - 1 Spain . 2 September 2021 . BBC Sport . 2 September 2021.
  35. News: Bell . Arch . Spain get their groove back against Georgia . 6 September 2021 . Marca . 5 September 2021.
  36. News: Spain at the 2022 World Cup: who is in Luis Enrique's 26-man squad? . 18 November 2022 . Reuters . 14 November 2022.
  37. News: Bevan . Chris . Spain 7 - 0 Costa Rica . 6 December 2022 . BBC Sport . 23 November 2022.
  38. News: Hafez . Shamoon . Morocco 0 - 0 Spain . 6 December 2022 . BBC Sport . 6 December 2022.
  39. Web site: Carlos Soler. SofaScore. 6 October 2019.
  40. Web site: Carlos Soler. EU-Football.info. 14 June 2021.
  41. Web site: Copa del Rey final: Valencia end Barcelona's double dream. 25 May 2019. BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 16 March 2020.
  42. Web site: 28 April 2024 . Paris Saint-Germain win their 12th Ligue 1 title! . 28 April 2024 . Paris Saint-Germain F.C..
  43. Web site: 25 May 2024 . PSG beat Lyon 2-1 to win French Cup final in Mbappe's farewell appearance . 25 May 2024 . Reuters.
  44. Web site: 3 January 2024 . Paris start 2024 with Trophée des Champions triumph! . 3 January 2024 . Paris Saint-Germain F.C..
  45. Web site: Spain U21 2–1 Germany U21. BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 30 June 2019. 1 July 2019.
  46. Web site: Under-21 2017 - History - Spain. UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 29 August 2017. 16 March 2020.
  47. Web site: Under-21 2017 - History - Matches. UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 29 August 2017. 16 March 2020.