Nicolás Blandi Explained

Nicolás Blandi
Fullname:Nicolás Blandi[1]
Birth Date:13 January 1990
Birth Place:Campana, Argentina
Height:1.81 m
Currentclub:Defensa y Justicia
Clubnumber:37
Position:Forward
Youthyears1:1995–2000
Youthclubs1:EFI
Youthyears2:2000–2001
Youthclubs2:Puerto Nuevo
Youthyears3:2001–2002
Youthclubs3:Villa Dálmine
Youthyears4:2002–2005
Youthclubs4:Chacarita Juniors
Youthyears5:2005–2010
Youthclubs5:Boca Juniors
Years1:2010–2013
Clubs1:Boca Juniors
Caps1:43
Goals1:13
Years2:2010–2011
Clubs2:Argentinos Juniors (loan)
Caps2:25
Goals2:6
Years3:2014–2019
Clubs3:San Lorenzo
Caps3:111
Goals3:44
Years4:2015
Clubs4:Evian TG (loan)
Caps4:6
Goals4:2
Years5:2015
Clubs5:Evian TG II (loan)
Caps5:1
Goals5:0
Years6:2020–2021
Clubs6:Colo-Colo
Caps6:16
Goals6:2
Years7:2021
Clubs7:Unión Santa Fe
Caps7:4
Goals7:0
Years8:2022–2023
Clubs8:San Lorenzo
Caps8:29
Goals8:1
Years9:2024–
Clubs9:Defensa y Justicia
Caps9:2
Goals9:0
Club-Update:14:28, 5 May 2024 (UTC)

Nicolás Blandi (born 13 January 1990) is an Argentine footballer who plays as a forward for Defensa y Justicia.

Club career

Early career

Born in Campana, Buenos Aires, Blandi began his career at the age of five at Escuela de Fútbol Infantil (EFI), a footballing school directed by Peter Ithurburu, as a central midfielder.[2] In 2000, aged ten, he moved to Puerto Nuevo, representing the club for one year before joining Villa Dálmine.[3]

In 2002, Blandi joined Chacarita Juniors' youth setup, now already a forward.[2] He played for the side for three seasons before moving to Boca Juniors at the age of 15.[3]

Boca Juniors

In May 2010, after impressing with the reserve team, Blandi was called up to the main squad ahead of a pre-season tour in the United States.[4] [5] He made his first-team debut on 24 May in a 1–0 loss at Los Angeles Galaxy,[6] and scored his first goal five days later in a 3–2 defeat to Portland Timbers.[7]

Loan to Argentinos Juniors

In July 2010, Blandi was loaned to fellow Primera División side Argentinos Juniors, for one year.[8] He made his professional debut on 16 August, starting in a 1–1 away draw against Independiente.

Blandi scored his first professional goal on 14 November 2010, netting the game's only in a home success over San Lorenzo.[9] He scored six goals in 25 appearances for the club.

Return to Boca

Returning to Boca ahead the 2011–12 campaign, Blandi was initially listed for loan by manager Julio César Falcioni, but remained in the squad after impressing during the pre-season. He made his official debut for the club on 23 September 2011, in a 1–0 home win against Estudiantes.

Blandi scored his first official goals for the club on 26 October 2011, netting a brace in a 2–0 away success over Colón.[10] He was regularly used during the season, mainly as a backup to Pablo Mouche and Darío Cvitanich, and beat off competition from Orlando Gaona Lugo, Sergio Araujo and injured Lucas Viatri.[11]

Blandi continued to feature mainly as a backup option in the following seasons.

San Lorenzo

On 13 January 2014, Blandi joined San Lorenzo on three-year contract, for a fee of US$ 1.8 million for 50% of his federative rights.[12] He made his debut for the club on 8 February in a 1–0 away loss against Olimpo, and scored his first goal eight days later in a 1–0 home defeat of Racing Club.

He was a part of the squad who lifted the 2014 Copa Libertadores, acting mainly as a rotation option with Mauro Matos and Martín Cauteruccio.

Loan to Evian TG

On 17 January 2015, Blandi was loaned to Ligue 1 side Evian Thonon Gaillard for six months.[13] After struggling with an injury in his first two months, he made his debut for the club on 21 March by replacing Mathieu Duhamel in a 1–0 home win against Montpellier HSC.

Blandi scored his first goal abroad on 18 April 2015, netting the equalizer in a 1–1 away draw against EA Guingamp. He contributed with six appearances during his spell, as his side suffered relegation.

Return from loan

Upon returning Blandi remained as a backup during the remainder of the 2015 season, but was a regular starter during the 2016 campaign. He scored eight goals during the latter year, including braces against Olimpo and River Plate.

On 1 August 2016, San Lorenzo bought the remaining 50% rights of Blandi.[14]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueCupContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Argentinos Juniors (loan)2010–11Primera División2562[15] 0276
Boca Juniors2011–12Primera División156424[16] 1239
2012–13184228[17] 200288
2013–141030000103
Total431364123006120
San Lorenzo2013–14Primera División1242000144
2014140007100211
201562200082
201614800311[18] 11810
2016–1723113314[19] 84022
2017–18229205[20] 22911
2018–1900001[21] 111
Total91349330131113151
Evian TG (loan)2014–15Ligue 16161
Evian TG B (loan)2014–15CFA 21010
Career totals1665415744161122678

Honours

Boca Juniors

2011 Apertura

2012

San Lorenzo

2014

2015

Colo-Colo

2019

Notes and References

  1. Web site: FIFA Club World Cup Morocco 2014: List of Players . FIFA . 6 . 15 December 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150711154142/http://www.fifadata.com/document/FCWC/2014/pdf/FCWC_2014_SquadLists.pdf . 11 July 2015 . dead.
  2. Web site: Descubriendo a Nicolás Blandi. Discovering Nicolás Blandi. El Gráfico. es. 1 November 2011. 8 August 2018.
  3. Web site: Nicolás Blandi, un nueve elegante. Nicolás Blandi, an elegant nine. El Gráfico. es. 3 August 2017. 8 August 2018.
  4. Web site: Boca practicó antes de viajar a la gira. Boca trained before travelling on tour. ESPN Deportes. es. 21 May 2010. 8 August 2018.
  5. Web site: Boca Juniors Announce Travel Roster. Los Angeles Galaxy. 19 May 2010. 8 August 2018.
  6. Web site: Boca cayó en Los Ángeles. Boca fell in Los Angeles. La Voz del Interior. es. 24 May 2010. 8 August 2018.
  7. Web site: Timbers defeat Boca Juniors on late goal by Lopez. Portland Timbers. 30 May 2010. 8 August 2018.
  8. Web site: Asociación Atlética Argentinos Juniors. De Rabona al Ángulo. es. 23 July 2010. 8 August 2018.
  9. Web site: Argentinos Juniors le ganó a San Lorenzo. Argentinos Juniors defeated San Lorenzo. La Voz del Interior. es. 14 November 2010. 8 August 2018.
  10. Web site: Con un Blandi goleador, Boca le ganó a Colón. With a goalscoring Blandi, Boca defeated Colón. La Voz del Interior. es. 26 October 2011. 8 August 2018.
  11. Web site: Mouche, el goleador menos pensado. Mouche, the least thinking goalscorer. La Nación. es. 27 April 2012. 8 August 2018.
  12. Web site: Nicolás Blandi ya se entrena con San Lorenzo: "Es un privilegio pasar de un grande a otro". Nicolás Blandi already trains with San Lorenzo: "It is a privilege to go from one big to another". La Nación. es. 14 January 2014. 8 August 2018.
  13. Web site: L'Argentin Nicolas Blandi signe à Evian-Thonon. Argentine Nicolas Blandi signs with Evian-Thonon. Ouest-France. fr. 17 January 2015. 8 August 2018.
  14. Web site: 100% Blandi. Olé. es. 1 August 2016. 8 August 2018.
  15. One appearance in Copa Sudamericana, one appearance in Copa Libertadores
  16. Appearance(s) in Copa Libertadores
  17. Seven appearances and two goals in Copa Libertadores, one appearance in Copa Sudamericana
  18. Appearance(s) in Supercopa Argentina
  19. Eight appearances and five goals in Copa Sudamericana, six appearances and three goals in Copa Libertadores
  20. Four appearances and two goals in Copa Libertadores, one appearance in Copa Sudamericana
  21. Appearance(s) in Copa Sudamericana