Squad: Gonzalo Higuain (20)

Gonzalo Higuain

Gonzalo Higuaín jumped onto the world football stage after being named Breakthrough Player on Argentina’s 2006 Torneo Apertura. "Pipita" is known for his speed in the last third of the pitch, his great striking ability, and his precisionpassing. Quick, elegant, and a knack for decision-making make Higuaín a fashionable forward in today's world of football.

Higuaín scored his first goal as Madridista against Atletico Madrid at the Vicente Calderón Stadium in 2006/07. His propensity for scoring in derbies dates back to his first Boca-River clash, when he led Los Millonarios to victory with a stunning brace. During his first year with Real Madrid he was criticised for rushing his shots on goal, but his few successful finishes were worth their weight in gold; Higuaín netted the game winner in the team’s amazing 4-3 comeback against Espanyol and lit a spark under his teammates in the season-closer against Mallorca.

Whether he plays close to the six-yard box or along the right wing, Higuaín has what it takes to be a goal-scoring machine.

Data

• Place of Birth: Brest, France


• Date of Birth: 10/12/1987


• Position: Forward


• Weight: 81.5 kg


• Height: 184 cm


• Nationality: Argentine/French

Honours

• Copa del Rey: 2011


• La Liga: 2006/07, 2007/08


• Spanish Super Cup: 2008

Higuain and Di Maria: To China with the team

Higuain and Di Maria deplete their holidays after the Copa America. Both have enjoyed two weeks after being eliminated in the quarter-final against Uruguay. Gago, the other Real Madrid player who participated in the tournament (Garay already went to Benfica) stays in Argentina to recover from his injury.

Higuain and Di Maria

Fernando Gago knows that has no place in Jose Mourinho's team and is looking for a way out. The club has given a deadline of August 7 to find destination. He seems to look kindly return to Boca Juniors, the club he left to join Real Madrid.

Higuain and Di Maria will meet again with his teammates who are getting in shape since July 11. The idea is to train slowly with the team and can play minutes in one of the two friendlies matches to dispute in China. Despite being disconnected, Higuain and Di Maria both have followed the evolution of their peers and are aware of the good image showed in the four games played so far.

Left midfielder has many possibilities to be starter if does not come Neymar. Callejon is looking good in the preseason, but he knows Mourinho is pleased with him and the confidence remains intact after his last good season. Meanwhile, Higuain will discuss a position with Benzema. Former River Plate player will face the best version of French. Karim seems more connected than ever and is showing with goals. There will be fighting for the '9'.

Mourinho gives two weeks off to Higuain and Di Maria

The elimination of Argentina in the Copa America 2011, will bring two new reinforcements for Mourinho's Real Madrid after the U.S.A tour. Higuain and Di Maria. Mourinho does not take in account Gago (in the press conference after the match against LA Galaxy, he did not talk about the player and is injured for three weeks) and Garay was transferred to Benfica. Portuguese already gave vacation to these players on May 18 and they enjoyed 21 days before the Copa America. Higuain will stay at least a week in Buenos Aires, while Di Maria traveled to Rosario to stay with his family. In principle, both will have two weeks off and will be back on August 1.

The Portuguese coach took yesterday morning for a walk in Beverly Hills. He was shopping at the mall Roberts Plaza for an hour, accompanied solely by a bodyguard of club. Within an hour, leaving one of the stores, he found seven paparazzi, so he had to return to the hotel. All players of Real Madrid were left resting in his hotel, but four homegrown players were also shopping: Nacho, Joselu, Mejia and Jesus.

Peculiar image. Mourinho at Los Angeles

Higuain: "We are very happy for Cristiano"

Gonzalo Higuain took yesterday evening, a flight to Buenos Aires where he will begin to prepare for the "Copa America" which begins July 1. The player has permission of the club and went with some family members.

Gonzalo Higuain. Madrid-Barajas Airport

In the morning reviewed the Real Madrid today in an event (a meeting with 10 white fans and friends of the musical band '84') and spoke of the record of 38 goals from Cristiano Ronaldo: "We are very happy for him. He deserves the Golden Boot. After seeing the scoring charts, it is not normal to score almost 40 goals, that the team reach almost 90 points and we do not win the championship. This is something unusual".

In reviewing the season, he followed the general line of the whole team, moderate happiness: "We did a good job. It was very important to win the Spanish Cup, but we always aspire to more, but unfortunately could not be". About the future, Higuain talked about one of the new signings for Real Madrid next season: "We expect the contribution of Nuri Sahin could be as important as it has been at Borussia Dortmund".

The Argentine player is already thinking about next season and the commitment he has with Argentina: "For us to win the Copa America would be an enormous enthusiasm and pride". On arrival in Buenos Aires, the white forward will meet with Sergio Batista, Argentina coach, to begin preparing for his "set-up" for this tournament where he wants to recover his best level. Di Maria and Garay also took a plane yesterday to go to Argentina with the permission of Real Madrid.

League (Day 30): Higuain reactions

HIGUAIN: "WE ARE STILL ALIVE"

You came back after an injury, but have gone with a loss ...
It's a shame we lost today because we had a great chance to grow stronger in the fight for the League, but I believe that there is life while there is hope. This club has made comebacks in many leagues. It's hard, but we have to keep winning. We're still alive; you can never leave Real Madrid for dead.

How do you have felt?
I am very happy on a personal level. People believed I would miss the entire season, but I managed to show them statistics don't rule everything in life. It wasn't really a challenge or a competition I had with anyone, but I did want to feel the pride of coming back ahead of schedule. I managed to and I felt very comfortable on the pitch tonight.

The key to my recovery was fighting hard and not to bring myself down. I fought for what I most love, which is to play football. Wearing this shirt at this stadium again is the most beautiful thing there is. I am grateful to all the coaching staff, to the fans, to my team-mates, to my family and to myself. I'm very happy to feel like a footballer again, even if this wasn't the comeback I dreamt of.

Gonzalo Higuian

You look more strong ...
The truth is that I felt good. I tried to play quietly at first to not drown, but it was inevitable and I choked, because the urge to score a goal and help the team was great. Sporting's goal killed me and all my colleagues.

You had a very good chance to score but Juan Pablo saved the goal ...
I would have reached for the sky had I scored from the first chance I got. I wanted to make sure I shot right, but the ball went the wrong way. These things happen in football. I'm happy with my return because a spinal operation is not something to take lightly. To play again and feel like a player once more is the most beautiful thing that can happen to you.

There is still the Champions League ...
We will have two very tough months ahead and hope that everything goes well.

Higuain will debut with Nike against Sporting

Gonzalo Higuain is like a child with new boots, literally. The Argentine striker has a good chance to return to the squad tomorrow, to face Sporting Gijon, after four and a half months off. And he will debut with his new sports firm, Nike, with whom he has just signed a "juicy" contract.

"Pipita" leaves Adidas, with whom he signed shortly after arriving at Real Madrid, by the competitors, the U.S.A. multinational which has hired one of the icons of white club and also the Argentina team. Higuain, 23 years old, will earn about one million euros per season, a remarkable amount for Madrid striker. So Gonzalo will release new boots on his return to the pitch which is becoming closer. In fact, in his gradual return to training, the Argentine has been testing several models of boots to choose which one best fits his feet.

Gonzalo Higuaín

His target, once he was operated in January by Dr. Fessler in Chicago, was trying to reach the Spanish Cup Final against Barcelona on April 20. But the Real Madrid striker has been reduced by more than one month, the initial period of injury that pointed he could not play until May. "Pipita" takes a couple of weeks training at the same pace as his peers. Even last week completed a practice match of non-international players against Castilla (Real Madrid B), proving to be fit to return but with lack of match fitness, of course.

Although the German firm Adidas has lost Higuain, still maintains a monopoly among the first team players because it also wears Real Madrid team. From the attackers Benzema, Di Maria, Kaka and Adebayor to Xabi Alonso, going through youth players like Canales, Adam or Granero. "The jewel in the crown", Cristiano, is still Nike and other top players; Sergio Ramos, Marcelo and Özil. Casillas is the only player who works with Reebok, owned by Adidas. Pepe and Garay are Umbro players.

Higuain works hard to help Real Madrid

There is no stoppages due to national teams games or days of rest for Gonzalo Higuain. The Argentine, since the beginning of the year, develops a routine apart from the rest of his teammates. "Pipita" is working every day to leave behind the aftermath of a hernia operation. On the horizon there is a date: April 20. And a dream: to be available to Jose Mourinho the day of the Spanish Cup Final.

Gonzalo HIguain

For Higuain, a simply travel to Valencia (Mestalla Stadium) would be as a prize. Operated in New York on January 11, the striker is now more than four months without being a footballer. Working alone both at home and in Valdebebas, gradually conquering small milestones, which have become big steps for a player in his situation. As the day he turned to walk on the grass, on March 2.

Since then, Pipita has continued progressing. Slowly, patiently, day by day. The challenge of the Cup Final motivates him, more collectively than individually. Because being able to play in that game is very complicated, mainly due to lack of pace. But Higuain dreams to travel, to be part of the group, to encourage his peers in a final full of attractions. When will he play? Surely, in early May.

A possible return against Barcelona, also will close the cycle of Higuain's injury. The first match he could not play was in the league, the first leg against Barcelona, on the famous 5-0. In the previous day, the twelfth, he lent his last service to Madrid, the goal that opened the scoring against Athletic Bilbao. That day, November 20, 2010, his back had enough. It was the beginning of a nightmare whose end is approaching.

Higuain advances his recovery

Higuain will not watch on television the Spanish Cup final against Barcelona on 20 April. Neither the "Classic", the league game at the Bernabeu to be held four days earlier. The Argentine striker has worked hard in the last two weeks and has evolved dramatically in the recovery of the herniated disc injury. In fact, it is expected to give him the discharge end of the month.

Dr. Fessler, who operated him in Chicago, diagnosed four months out, leaving him almost no options to help the team this season. But the starter of Argentina national team and Real Madrid (when he was injured on November 29 had 10 goals in 17 matches), has rebelled against his fate and the club doctors are stunned with his progress.

Higuain at Valdebebas

Higuain is working eight hours a day in Valdebebas (with double shifts, morning and afternoon), once he passed the early stages of rehabilitation. He began work on the pool and went into the machine of weightlessness with muscle strengthening exercises of the spine to achieve stabilization in the surgical field. A week ago, the club's media have already published some revealing pictures of the progression of Higuain; Running in short stretches, dodging cones in a zig-zag and touching the ball without feeling pain.

Higuain reflected his feelings in a Realmadrid TV interview : "The other day someone told me that these rehabilitations are made faster if you have a target. Dreaming when you return, how to score, how to celebrate, the illusion of people around you... That improves the player physically and emotionally".

Mourinho is delighted with Higuain's work. He knows he will dispose of him in the Spanish Cup final on 20 April and in the "Classic" League match on the 16th. And even at the quarterfinals of the Champions (6-13 April). But first, the Lyon should be eliminated.

Gonzalo HIGUAIN

Gonzalo HIGUAIN

Gonzalo HIGUAIN

Gonzalo HIGUAIN