Roberto Soldado Rillo (born 27 May 1985) is a Spanish footballer who plays for Valencia CF as a striker.
Born in Valencia, joined Real Madrid at the age of 15 from local small club CF Don Bosco. After seasons of prolific goalscoring with the club's B team, he made his first team debut on 23 October 2005, against Valencia CF, playing 18 minutes in a 1–2 home loss. Previously, on 28 September, he had scored an 86th minute winner after just six minutes on the pitch, in the season's UEFA Champions League contest against Olympiakos FC (2–1 home win), adding a late equalizer against CA Osasuna and another in a 3–2 success at Racing de Santander as Real finished second in the league, also netting in the Copa del Rey 4–0 win against Athletic Bilbao.
In early June 2010, after a successful year at Getafe - 16 league goals, and the club qualified for the UEFA Europa League - Soldado returned to his hometown and signed for Valencia for €10 million, replacing FC Barcelona-bound David Villa. In his first official game, on 14 September, for the Champions League group stage, he contributed one goal in the Che's 4–0 win at Bursaspor; when the two teams met at the Estadio Mestalla in November, he netted two more, in a 6–1 success.
Born in Valencia, joined Real Madrid at the age of 15 from local small club CF Don Bosco. After seasons of prolific goalscoring with the club's B team, he made his first team debut on 23 October 2005, against Valencia CF, playing 18 minutes in a 1–2 home loss. Previously, on 28 September, he had scored an 86th minute winner after just six minutes on the pitch, in the season's UEFA Champions League contest against Olympiakos FC (2–1 home win), adding a late equalizer against CA Osasuna and another in a 3–2 success at Racing de Santander as Real finished second in the league, also netting in the Copa del Rey 4–0 win against Athletic Bilbao.
In early June 2010, after a successful year at Getafe - 16 league goals, and the club qualified for the UEFA Europa League - Soldado returned to his hometown and signed for Valencia for €10 million, replacing FC Barcelona-bound David Villa. In his first official game, on 14 September, for the Champions League group stage, he contributed one goal in the Che's 4–0 win at Bursaspor; when the two teams met at the Estadio Mestalla in November, he netted two more, in a 6–1 success.
