Clubs: CA Newell's Old Boys, CA River Plate, Olympiacos FC, FC Porto

UEFA honours
UEFA Europa League: winner 2011

• Moved from Newell's Old Boys to River in July 2006 and established an immediate rapport with young striker Gonzalo Higuaín; replaced Marcelo Gallardo as club captain and remained for three championship campaigns.

• Joined Olympiacos in January 2008 and won the league three months later, scoring once in 11 league appearances.

• More influential in his first full season at the Piraeus club, helping Olympiacos retain the title with five Super League goals; played from start to finish in an epic Greek Cup final against AEK Athens FC (4-4 aet, 15-14 on penalties).

• Joined Porto for €5m in July 2009 as a replacement for captain Lucho, who left for Olympique de Marseille; won the Portuguese Cup at the end of his first campaign and the Liga with five matches to spare in 2011.

• A regular in Porto's run to the 2011 UEFA Europa League final against SC Braga, for which he was a second-half substitute.