Gabriel Batistuta, whose biography is briefly presented in this article, is one of the most successful Argentinean footballers of the past few decades. At the moment, the player has scored the most goals in the history of his national team. He was especially famous for his performances in the Italian Fiorentina.
Carier start
The future outstanding football player was born in the Argentine city of Reconquista on February 1, 1969. From an early age, the boy showed great interest in sports. He played good volleyball, basketball and, of course, football. The guy’s talent was noticed by representatives of the Newell's Old Boys club, in whose youth academy his sports career began. Gabriel Batistuta progressed here very quickly. As a result, already at the age of nineteen he made his debut in an adult team. The first season was very successful for the young striker, who managed to deliver 7 productive strikes in 24 matches. As a result, after its completion, the player ended up in the Argentinean Grand - River Plate. However, in the new team he failed to reveal his potential. During the year of performances, he distinguished himself only 4 times in 21 games, so the club management decided not to bet on him in the future. Such a low rate did not confuse the owners of another famous local team - Boki Juniors, who invited the promising forward to their ranks. In the camp of the eternal rival of River Plate for the season, Gabriel Batistuta scored 13 goals in 30 matches, which can be called a worthy indicator, as for a player aged 21 years.
Fiorentina
The progress of the young talent was noticed by scouts of the Florentine club Fiorentina. After watching several games involving the striker, the president of the Italian team announced his personal interest in acquiring this striker. As a result, a player who had been in his previous clubs for no more than one year moved to the Apennine Peninsula. In Florence, the football player spent nine years. During this time, he became a true legend not only of the local club, but of all Italian football. It was here that he won real fame. Regardless of the partners and the position of the club in the national championship standings, he demonstrated a stable game of the highest level. Be that as it may, even the numerous goals of Gabriel Batistuta from season to season “violets” did not help to occupy the highest places in the championship.
In 1994, the forward became the best “Series A” goalscorer, and two years later, together with his team, he won the opening trophy, which was the Italian Cup. The following year, the club won the Italian Super Cup. Be that as it may, Fiorentina, despite its good composition, could not compete on equal terms with more eminent teams. At the end of each new season, the team was below fourth place in the table, so could not play in the Champions League. In 2000, the club was in a crisis. It is not surprising that Gabriel Batistuta left Florence and moved to the metropolitan Roma, dreaming of winning the championship. In total, in all tournaments for "violets" the player took part in 332 matches in which he signed at the rivals' goal 207 times. Such an amazing result can explain the most famous nickname of Gabriel Batistuta, which sounds like Bati-goal.
The end of the Italian period
According to the results of the first Roman season, the player became the champion of Italy. He himself greatly helped the team achieve this goal, scoring 20 goals. At that time, the player was already 32 years old. In many matches in the future, he faintly resembled the former formidable striker. The situation was not in the best way in the capital's club itself. As a result, in 2003 Gabriel Batistuta went on loan to Inter. For the Romans, the striker spent a total of 63 games and scored 30 goals, and for the Milanese - only 12 fights, in which he scored 2 times. After the end of the season, the Argentinean was already thinking about ending his professional career, but he received a profitable offer in terms of finances from Qatar, which he nevertheless accepted after much deliberation.
Retirement
Many famous football players go to Arab countries at the end of their careers just for the sake of making good money and often do not really give all the best on the football field. This does not apply to the Bati goal. For two years, as part of the Al-Arabi club, the forward honestly worked out his contract. After playing 22 matches for the team, Gabriel Batistuta scored 30 goals. Only after that, the Argentine with a clear conscience announced the end of his career as a professional football player.
National team
The footballer received his first call to the national team in 1991. Since that time, he has held 78 fights in a white and blue T-shirt of Argentina, in which he scored 56 goals. At the moment, this indicator remains unsurpassed. The forward took part in three World Cups, and also triumphantly triumphed at the America's Cup with his team.
Personal life
Family ties are what Gabriel Batistuta values most. His wife, Irina, with whom the footballer officially legalized in late 1990, gave him three sons.