Matías Silvestre

Matías Agustín Silvestre (born 25 September 1984) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Belgian club Mouscron.

Matías Silvestre

Silvestre training with Inter in 2012
Personal information
Full name	Matías Agustín Silvestre
Date of birth	25 September 1984
Place of birth	Mercedes, Argentina
Height	1.87 m (6 ft 1 ^1⁄2 in)[1]
Position(s)	Centre-back
Club information
Current team	Mouscron
Number	26
Youth career
1992–1994	Club Mercedes
1994–2003	Boca Juniors
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2003–2008	Boca Juniors	83	(6)
2008–2011	Catania	126	(7)
2011–2012	Palermo	29	(5)
2012–2014	Internazionale	20	(0)
2013–2014	→ Milan (loan)	4	(1)
2014–2018	Sampdoria	124	(3)
2018–2020	Empoli	34	(2)
2020	Livorno	5	(0)
2020–	Mouscron	20	(2)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 31 January 2021

Club career

Boca Juniors

Silvestre began his career with Argentine club Boca Juniors, where he would go on to make his league debut on 23 March 2003 in a 3–1 win over Lanús. Silvestre soon was inserted into the Boca Juniors starting line-up and between 2003 and 2007, he went on to make 63 league appearances, scoring six goals. He was used as both a central defender and a right full-back during his spell with the club. Following an impressive 2007 season of the club, Silvestre was transferred to Catania in the Serie A.

Catania

During the 2008 January transfer window, Silvestre transferred to Sicilian club Catania on loan.[2] His first six months at Catania was not so great as he was not part of then-coach Silvio Baldini's starting team, making just 11 appearances, just five as a starter. However, his loan was nonetheless made permanent in the summer of 2008 for €2.043 million[3] after Walter Zenga was appointed head coach, following the sacking of Baldini. He soon became an instrumental part of Catania's first team and was a major influence on their fairly successful 2008–09 season as the club avoided relegation for the third consecutive season.

Silvestre continued to shine during his third season in Sicily as the defender went on to make more appearances than any of his teammates during the 2009–10 campaign. He formed a solid defensive line-up with the likes of Pablo Álvarez, Nicolás Spolli, Christian Terlizzi and Ciro Capuano as Catania recorded their record-breaking points total in Serie A, finishing in 13th place with just 45 goals conceded in 38 matches. During the 2010–11 Serie A campaign, Silvestre earned captaincy at the Sicilian club, following the sale of Giuseppe Mascara to Napoli on 31 January 2011. He has made 116 total appearances for his club, scoring seven goals, six of which have come during the 2010–11 Serie A season, a season which recorded a third consecutive record points total for the Sicilian club. On 9 July 2011, Marco Biagianti was assigned captaincy of the club for the 2011–12 Serie A season.

Palermo

On 8 August 2011, Silvestre moved to Palermo for €7 million in a four-year contract, with Davide Lanzafame moving in the opposite direction in co-ownership deal for €1 million.[4][5] Silvestre debuted for the Rosanero on 11 September 2011 in the 4–3 victory against Internazionale, on the second day of the season (the first was postponed). He scored his first Palermo goal in a 3–1 win over Bologna on the 11th matchday of Serie A, making the score 2–0.

On 19 February 2012, in Palermo's 4–1 win over Siena, Silvestre suffered an injury to his right thigh, forcing him to leave the match. Nearly two months later, on 22 April, Silvestre returned to the pitch in Palermo's 2–2 draw with Cesena. In the second-last match of the Serie A season, on 6 May, Silvestre scored in Palermo's 4–4 draw with Chievo. He finished the season with 4 goals from 28 appearances.

Internazionale

On 6 July 2012, Palermo loaned Silvestre to Internazionale for €3 million (paid via the 50% registration rights of goalkeeper Emiliano Viviano), with an obligation to purchase outright for €6 million.[6][7] Silvestre was issued shirt number 6.

Silvestre made his Nerazzurri debut in the third qualifying round of the 2012–13 UEFA Europa League against Hajduk Split, a 3–0 away win.[8][9] On 28 April 2013, in Inter's 1–0 defeat to Palermo, Silvestre incurred an injury to his right thigh, prematurely ending his season, making 20 total appearances.[10]

Loans to Milan and Sampdoria

On 30 July 2013, Silvestre was loaned for one year to Inter's rivals Milan for €1 million,[11] with an option to purchase him outright at end of the loan for €4 million.[12][13] Silvestre chose to wear shirt number 26. He made his Rossoneri debut on 19 October in the 1–0 home victory against Udinese, and in the next round, a 3–2 defeat away to Parma, he scored his first goal with Milan.[14] After four appearances and one goal with Milan, he returned to Inter as Milan declined to exercise its option to purchase Silvestre.

On 29 August 2014, Silvestre joined Sampdoria on loan from Inter.[15] He chose the number 26 shirt he previously wore at Milan. Two days later, he made his Blucerchiato debut after appearing as a substitute for Gianluca Sansone in the 1–1 away draw with former club Palermo. Silvestre made 30 appearances for Sampdoria and became unattached at the end of the 2014–15 season following the expiration of his contract with Inter.

Sampdoria

On 9 July 2015, following his release from Inter, Silvestre returned to Sampdoria, signing a two-year contract.[16]

Empoli

On 6 August 2018, Silvestre signed with Serie A club Empoli a 1-year contract.[17]

Livorno

On 6 February 2020, he joined Serie B club Livorno.[18]

Mouscron

On 20 July 2020, he moved to Belgium and signed with Mouscron.[19]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 26 May 2019[20]

Club	Season	League	League		Cup		Europe		Other		Total
			Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Boca Juniors	2005–06	Primera División	21	4	–		–		–		21	4
	2006–07		21	1	–		0	0	–		21	1
	2007–08		2	0	–		–		0	0	2	0
	Total		83	6	0	0	0	0	0	0	83	6
Catania	2007–08	Serie A	11	0	2	0	–		–		13	0
	2008–09		36	0	3	0	–		–		39	0
	2009–10		35	1	1	0	–		–		36	1
	2010–11		36	6	2	0	–		–		38	6
	Total		118	7	8	0	0	0	0	0	126	7
Palermo	2011–12	Serie A	29	5	0	0	–		–		29	5
Inter Milan	2012–13		9	0	2	0	9	0	–		20	0
Milan	2013–14		4	1	0	0	0	0	–		4	1
Sampdoria	2014–15		29	0	1	0	–		–		30	0
	2015–16		25	0	0	0	2	0	–		27	0
	2016–17		36	0	2	0	–		–		38	0
	2017–18		34	1	3	0	–		–		37	1
	Total		124	1	6	0	2	0	0	0	132	1
Empoli	2018–19	Serie A	34	2	1	0	–		–		35	2
Career Total			362	21	17	0	11	0	0	0	429	22

Honours

Club

Boca Juniors

• Apertura: 2003, 2005
• Copa Sudamericana: 2004, 2005
• Recopa Sudamericana: 2005, 2006
• Clausura: 2006
• Copa Libertadores: 2007

References

1. https://empolifc.com/prima-squadra/la-rosa height/altezza in his clickable profile
2. "Silvestre al Catania" (in Italian). Calcio Catania. 28 January 2008. Archived from the original on 5 November 2014. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
3. Calcio Catania S.p.A. bilancio (financial report and accounts) on 30 June 2008 (in Italian), PDF purchased from Italian C.C.I.A.A.
4. Calcio Catania S.p.A. bilancio (financial report and accounts) on 30 June 2012 (in Italian), PDF purchased from Italian C.C.I.A.A.
5. U.S. Città di Palermo S.p.A. bilancio (financial report and accounts) on 30 June 2012 (in Italian), PDF purchased from Italian C.C.I.A.A.
6. U.S. Città di Palermo SpA bilancio (financial report and accounts) on 30 June 2013 (in Italian), PDF purchased from Italian C.C.I.A.A.
7. Inter, riscattato Silvestre dal Palermo Tuttomercatoweb.com
8. Pinzolo, 31 nerazzurri in partenza per il ritiro estivo Inter.it
9. Mazzarri non fa sconti: Silvestre e Schelorro assenti. E Mariga... Fcinter1908.it
10. "SILVESTRE ALL'INTER" (in Italian). 6 July 2012. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
11. "Relazione e Bilancio al 31 Dicembre 2013" (PDF) (in Italian). AC Milan. 18 November 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 28 May 2015.
12. "Milan reach Matias Silvestre agreement". ESPN FC. 30 July 2013. Retrieved 30 July 2013.
13. "Milan confirm Silvestre deal". Football Italia. 30 July 2013. Retrieved 30 July 2013.
14. http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Squadre/Milan/27-10-2013/parma-milan-3-2-parolo-esalta-tardini-201447029866.shtml
15. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 1 September 2014. Retrieved 30 August 2014.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
16. http://www.sampdoria.it/silvestreancoraconnoi-firma-su-un-biennale-per-il-centrale-argentino/
17. "UFFICIALE: Empoli, dalla Samp arriva Silvestre a titolo definitivo". Retrieved 6 August 2018.
18. "Matias Silvester Nuovo Acquisto del Livorno" (Press release) (in Italian). Livorno. 6 February 2020.
19. "Matias Silvestre devrait être le leader de la défense hurlue" (Press release) (in French). Mouscron. 20 July 2020.
20. Matías Silvestre at Soccerway

External links

• Matías Silvestre at Soccerway
• (in Spanish) Argentine Primera statistics