PAST PLAYER PROFILE - Gabriel Paletta

Gabriel Paletta : Defender
Date of Birth: 15/02/1986
Birthplace: Buenos Aires, Argentina
Debut : v Reading, October 25, 2006 at Anfield. Won 4-3
1st team games: 8
1st team goals: 1
Other clubs: Banfield, Boca Juniors
International caps while with Liverpool: -
International goals while with Liverpool: -
Honours with Liverpool: -

PROFILE

Defender Gabriel Paletta became the second Argentinian to sign for Liverpool after Mauricio Pellegrino in the summer of 2006.

The centre-back was a product of the Banfield youth system, breaking into the first team in 2005. He helped his country win the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championships, playing in all seven games alongside the likes of Lionel Messi.

From there, most presumed Paletta would join Argentine giants River Plate. Indeed, the club had already reserved the number six shirt for him before Liverpool swooped.

His no-nonsense approach to the game led to comparisons with club legend Jamie Carragher during the early days of his Anfield career. Unfortunately, such talk proved premature.

Paletta played just eight games during his single season on Merseyside after making his debut in the League Cup against Reading.

Still, he did join an exclusive group of players who scored on their Reds debut (Stan Collymore, Nigel Clough – meet Gabriel Paletta).

The defender left Liverpool for Boca Juniors in August 2007.

PAST PLAYER PROFILE - Mauricio Pellegrino

Mauricio Pellegrino : Defender 2005
Date of Birth: 05/10/1971
Birthplace: Argentina
1st team games: 12
1st team goals: 0
Other clubs: CA Velez Sarsfield, Barcelona, Valencia

PROFILE
Mauricio Pellegrino was the first Argentine to play for Liverpool and Rafael Benitez went back to his former club Valencia to sign the defender in January 2005 on a short term contract.

He played 12 games in a red shirt and his best game came in the 2-1 Anfield derby win over Everton, but overall struggled for consistency and found the pace of the English game hard to adapt to, and he was released in the summer of 2005.
Pellegrino started his career playing in Argentina for CA Velez Sarsfield and played over 200 games for the club winning three Apertura titles and two Clausura titles and a number of international honours, including the Copa Libertadores and European/South American Cup in 1994.

In 1998 he moved to La Liga to play for Spanish giants Barcelona. He made 23 appearances as Barcelona won the league title under Louis van Gaal.
In 1999 Pellegrino was snapped up by Valencia and instantly began to form a impressive partnership in central defence alongside fellow Argentine Roberto Ayala.

He played in two Champions League finals for Valencia only to finish on the losing side twice to Real Madrid and Bayern Munich. Unfortunately Pellegrino missed a penalty in the final against the Germans.

In 2001/02, under the management of Rafael Benitez, Pellegrino helped the Mestalla side to their first Spanish championship since 1971.

He didn't have much luck last season in 2003/04 when a dislocated shoulder and the form of Carlos Marchena kept Pellegrino on the sidelines and he made just 16 starts as Valencia won back the Spanish title.

Mauricio was a substitute in the UEFA Cup final victory over Olympique de Marseille, coming on in the 86th minute, Benitez's last match in charge of Valencia