| Diego Pituca | |
| Fullname: | Diego Cristiano Evaristo |
| Birth Date: | 1 August 1992 |
| Birth Place: | Mogi Guaçu, Brazil |
| Height: | [1] |
| Currentclub: | Santos |
| Clubnumber: | 21 |
| Position: | Defensive midfielder |
| Youthyears1: | 2002–2009 |
| Youthclubs1: | Guaçuano |
| Youthyears2: | 2009–2010 |
| Youthclubs2: | Itapirense |
| Years1: | 2011 |
| Clubs1: | Mineiros |
| Caps1: | 0 |
| Goals1: | 0 |
| Years2: | 2011 |
| Clubs2: | Brasilis |
| Caps2: | 15 |
| Goals2: | 0 |
| Years3: | 2012–2013 |
| Clubs3: | Guaçuano |
| Caps3: | 39 |
| Goals3: | 6 |
| Years4: | 2013–2015 |
| Clubs4: | Matonense |
| Caps4: | 65 |
| Goals4: | 6 |
| Years5: | 2014 |
| Clubs5: | → União São João (loan) |
| Caps5: | 13 |
| Goals5: | 3 |
| Years6: | 2015 |
| Clubs6: | → Botafogo-SP (loan) |
| Caps6: | 12 |
| Goals6: | 0 |
| Years7: | 2016–2017 |
| Clubs7: | Botafogo-SP |
| Caps7: | 48 |
| Goals7: | 3 |
| Years8: | 2017–2021 |
| Clubs8: | Santos |
| Caps8: | 123 |
| Goals8: | 6 |
| Years9: | 2021–2023 |
| Clubs9: | Kashima Antlers |
| Caps9: | 85 |
| Goals9: | 6 |
| Years10: | 2024– |
| Clubs10: | Santos |
| Caps10: | 51 |
| Goals10: | 5 |
| Club-Update: | 21:47, 26 November 2024 (UTC) |
Diego Cristiano Evaristo (born 1 August 1992), known as Diego Pituca or simply Pituca, is a Brazilian footballer who plays for Santos. Mainly a defensive midfielder, he can also play as a left back.
Pituca was born in Mogi Guaçu, São Paulo, and mainly represented Guaçuano and Itapirense as a youth. In 2011 he joined Mineiros, but failed to appear for the side during his spell.[2] [3]
In 2011 Pituca returned to his native state, after agreeing to a contract with Brasilis.[3] He made his debut for the club on 7 May of that year by starting in a 1–0 Campeonato Paulista Segunda Divisão away loss against his first club Guaçuano,[4] and played his first campaign as a left back.[3]
On 11 January 2012, after being a regular starter for Brasilis, Pituca moved back to Mandi.[5] He only scored his first senior goal on 3 March of the following year, in a 2–2 home draw against Sertãozinho; thirteen days later, however, he netted a brace in a 4–1 home routing of Marília.
After two seasons as a starter, Pituca joined Matonense in April 2013.[6] On 28 May 2014, he was loaned to União São João until the end of the year's Paulistão Segunda Divisão.[7]
Upon returning to Matonense, Pituca impressed enough for the side to secure a loan deal to Botafogo-SP on 19 May 2015, despite being relegated with his previous club.[8] He immediately became a starter at the side, helping in their Campeonato Brasileiro Série D winning campaign.
Pituca signed a permanent deal with Bota for the 2016 season, and remained a mainstay afterwards. On 17 November of that year, he renewed his contract until the end of 2018.[9]
On 29 May 2017 Pituca joined Santos, being initially assigned to the B-team.[10] The following 24 January, he was promoted to the first team by new manager Jair Ventura.[11]
Pituca made his first team – and Série A – debut on 14 April 2018, replacing Jean Mota in a 2–0 home win against Ceará.[12] He made his Copa Libertadores debut on 24 May, starting in a 0–0 home draw against Real Garcilaso.[13]
Pituca scored his first senior goal for Peixe on 23 September 2018, netting the opener in a 1–1 home draw against Vasco da Gama. Under new manager Cuca, he became an undisputed starter[14] and finished the campaign with 34 league appearances.
On 3 May 2019, Pituca renewed his contract until April 2023.[15] He remained a regular under subsequent managers Jorge Sampaoli and Jesualdo Ferreira, playing in a more advanced midfield role with the latter.[16]
On 10 November 2020, it was announced that Pituca and a further six first team players tested positive for COVID-19.[17]
On 15 January 2021, Santos president Andrés Rueda announced the sale of Pituca to Japanese club Kashima Antlers.[18] Antlers confirmed the transfer six days later, with Pituca joining the club after the 2020 Copa Libertadores Final.[19]
Despite the J1 League season beginning in February, due to the COVID-19 pandemic Pituca was only allowed to enter Japan on April 2 and had to isolate for 14 days on arrival.[20] He eventually made his debut in the J.League Cup, coming on as a substitute in a 2–2 draw with Sagan Tosu.[21] He scored his first goal for Kashima in a 4-0 J1 League win over Consadole Sapporo.[22] He went on to make 37 appearances across all competitions in his debut season, scoring 2 goals.
On 20 July 2023, Santos announced an agreement with Pituca for a four-year contract, effective on 1 January 2024, after his contract with Kashima expired.[23] On 31 December, Santos confirmed his return.[24]
Pituca was a regular starter for the club in the 2024 Campeonato Paulista, being named in the best XI of the competition.
.
| Club | Season | League | State League | Cup | League Cup | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| Mineiros | 2011 | Goiano 2ª Divisão | — | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | ||||||
| Brasilis | 2011 | Paulista 2ª Divisão | — | 15 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 15 | 0 | ||||||
| Guaçuano | 2012 | Paulista A3 | — | 22 | 0 | — | — | — | 11[25] | 0 | 33 | 0 | |||||
| 2013 | — | 17 | 6 | — | — | — | — | 17 | 6 | ||||||||
| Total | — | 39 | 6 | — | — | — | 11 | 0 | 50 | 6 | |||||||
| Matonense | 2013[26] | Paulista 2ª Divisão | — | 26 | 3 | — | — | — | — | 26 | 3 | ||||||
| 2014 | Paulista A3 | — | 22 | 3 | — | — | — | — | 22 | 3 | |||||||
| 2015 | Paulista A2 | — | 17 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 17 | 0 | |||||||
| Total | — | 65 | 6 | — | — | — | — | 65 | 6 | ||||||||
| União São João (loan) | 2014[27] | Paulista 2ª Divisão | — | 13 | 3 | — | — | — | — | 13 | 3 | ||||||
| Botafogo–SP | 2015 | Série D | 12 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | 12 | 0 | ||||||
| 2016 | Série C | 19 | 0 | 14 | 3 | — | — | — | — | 33 | 3 | ||||||
| 2017 | 2 | 0 | 13 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 15 | 0 | |||||||
| Total | 33 | 0 | 27 | 3 | — | — | — | — | 60 | 3 | |||||||
| Santos | 2017 | Série A | — | — | — | — | — | 17 | 3 | 17 | 3 | ||||||
| 2018 | 34 | 1 | — | 3 | 0 | — | 3[28] | 0 | — | 40 | 1 | ||||||
| 2019 | 35 | 2 | 14 | 1 | 7 | 1 | — | 2[29] | 0 | — | 58 | 4 | |||||
| 2020 | 27 | 1 | 13 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | 12 | 1 | — | 54 | 3 | |||||
| Total | 96 | 4 | 27 | 2 | 12 | 1 | — | 17 | 1 | 17 | 3 | 169 | 11 | ||||
| Kashima Antlers | 2021 | J1 League | 26 | 2 | — | 4 | 0 | 7 | 0 | — | — | 37 | 2 | ||||
| 2022 | 28 | 1 | — | 4 | 1 | 3 | 1 | — | — | 35 | 3 | ||||||
| 2023 | 31 | 3 | — | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — | — | 37 | 3 | ||||||
| Total | 85 | 6 | — | 9 | 1 | 15 | 1 | — | — | 109 | 8 | ||||||
| Santos | 2024 | Série B | 36 | 4 | 15 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 51 | 5 | |||||
| Career total | 250 | 14 | 201 | 21 | 21 | 2 | 15 | 1 | 17 | 1 | 28 | 3 | 532 | 42 | |||
2013