Diego Cristiano Evaristo (born 1 August 1992), known as Diego Pituca or simply Pituca, is a Brazilian footballer who plays for Santos. Mainly a defensive midfielder, he can also play as a left back.
 Diego Pituca playing for Santos in 2018 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Diego Cristiano Evaristo | ||
| Date of birth | 1 August 1992 | ||
| Place of birth | Mogi Guaçu, Brazil | ||
| Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)[1] | ||
| Position(s) | Defensive midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Santos | ||
| Number | 21 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2002–2009 | Guaçuano | ||
| 2009–2010 | Itapirense | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2011 | Mineiros | 0 | (0) |
| 2011 | Brasilis | 15 | (0) |
| 2012–2013 | Guaçuano | 39 | (6) |
| 2013–2015 | Matonense | 65 | (6) |
| 2014 | → União São João (loan) | 13 | (3) |
| 2015 | → Botafogo-SP (loan) | 12 | (0) |
| 2016–2017 | Botafogo-SP | 48 | (3) |
| 2017–2021 | Santos | 123 | (6) |
| 2021–2023 | Kashima Antlers | 85 | (6) |
| 2024– | Santos | 50 | (5) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16:08, 18 November 2024 (UTC) | |||
Club career
Early career
Pituca was born in Mogi Guaçu, São Paulo, and mainly represented Guaçuano and Itapirense as a youth. In 2011 he joined Mineiros, but failed to appear for the side during his spell.[2][3]
In 2011 Pituca returned to his native state, after agreeing to a contract with Brasilis.[3] He made his debut for the club on 7 May of that year by starting in a 1–0 Campeonato Paulista Segunda Divisão away loss against his first club Guaçuano,[4] and played his first campaign as a left back.[3]
On 11 January 2012, after being a regular starter for Brasilis, Pituca moved back to Mandi.[5] He only scored his first senior goal on 3 March of the following year, in a 2–2 home draw against Sertãozinho; thirteen days later, however, he netted a brace in a 4–1 home routing of Marília.
After two seasons as a starter, Pituca joined Matonense in April 2013.[6] On 28 May 2014, he was loaned to União São João until the end of the year's Paulistão Segunda Divisão.[7]
Botafogo-SP
Upon returning to Matonense, Pituca impressed enough for the side to secure a loan deal to Botafogo-SP on 19 May 2015, despite being relegated with his previous club.[8] He immediately became a starter at the side, helping in their Campeonato Brasileiro Série D winning campaign.
Pituca signed a permanent deal with Bota for the 2016 season, and remained a mainstay afterwards. On 17 November of that year, he renewed his contract until the end of 2018.[9]
Santos
_(cropped).jpg)
On 29 May 2017 Pituca joined Santos, being initially assigned to the B-team.[10] The following 24 January, he was promoted to the first team by new manager Jair Ventura.[11]
Pituca made his first team – and Série A – debut on 14 April 2018, replacing Jean Mota in a 2–0 home win against Ceará.[12] He made his Copa Libertadores debut on 24 May, starting in a 0–0 home draw against Real Garcilaso.[13]
Pituca scored his first senior goal for Peixe on 23 September 2018, netting the opener in a 1–1 home draw against Vasco da Gama. Under new manager Cuca, he became an undisputed starter[14] and finished the campaign with 34 league appearances.
On 3 May 2019, Pituca renewed his contract until April 2023.[15] He remained a regular under subsequent managers Jorge Sampaoli and Jesualdo Ferreira, playing in a more advanced midfield role with the latter.[16]
On 10 November 2020, it was announced that Pituca and a further six first team players tested positive for COVID-19.[17]
Kashima Antlers
On 15 January 2021, Santos president Andrés Rueda announced the sale of Pituca to Japanese club Kashima Antlers.[18] Antlers confirmed the transfer six days later, with Pituca joining the club after the 2020 Copa Libertadores Final.[19]
Despite the J1 League season beginning in February, due to the COVID-19 pandemic Pituca was only allowed to enter Japan on April 2 and had to isolate for 14 days on arrival.[20] He eventually made his debut in the J.League Cup, coming on as a substitute in a 2–2 draw with Sagan Tosu.[21] He scored his first goal for Kashima in a 4-0 J1 League win over Consadole Sapporo.[22] He went on to make 37 appearances across all competitions in his debut season, scoring 2 goals.
Santos return
On 20 July 2023, Santos announced an agreement with Pituca for a four-year contract, effective on 1 January 2024, after his contract with Kashima expired.[23] On 31 December, Santos confirmed his return.[24]
Pituca was a regular starter for the club in the 2024 Campeonato Paulista, being named in the best XI of the competition.
Career statistics
Club
- As of 18 November 2024.[25]
| Club | Season | League | State League | Cup | League Cup | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Mineiros | 2011 | Goiano 2ª Divisão | — | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | |||||
| Brasilis | 2011 | Paulista 2ª Divisão | — | 15 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 15 | 0 | |||||
| Guaçuano | 2012 | Paulista A3 | — | 22 | 0 | — | — | — | 11[a] | 0 | 33 | 0 | ||||
| 2013 | — | 17 | 6 | — | — | — | — | 17 | 6 | |||||||
| Total | — | 39 | 6 | — | — | — | 11 | 0 | 50 | 6 | ||||||
| Matonense | 2013[26] | Paulista 2ª Divisão | — | 26 | 3 | — | — | — | — | 26 | 3 | |||||
| 2014 | Paulista A3 | — | 22 | 3 | — | — | — | — | 22 | 3 | ||||||
| 2015 | Paulista A2 | — | 17 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 17 | 0 | ||||||
| Total | — | 65 | 6 | — | — | — | — | 65 | 6 | |||||||
| União São João (loan) | 2014[27] | Paulista 2ª Divisão | — | 13 | 3 | — | — | — | — | 13 | 3 | |||||
| Botafogo–SP | 2015 | Série D | 12 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | 12 | 0 | |||||
| 2016 | Série C | 19 | 0 | 14 | 3 | — | — | — | — | 33 | 3 | |||||
| 2017 | 2 | 0 | 13 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 15 | 0 | ||||||
| Total | 33 | 0 | 27 | 3 | — | — | — | — | 60 | 3 | ||||||
| Santos | 2017 | Série A | — | — | — | — | — | 17[a] | 3 | 17 | 3 | |||||
| 2018 | 34 | 1 | — | 3 | 0 | — | 3[b] | 0 | — | 40 | 1 | |||||
| 2019 | 35 | 2 | 14 | 1 | 7 | 1 | — | 2[c] | 0 | — | 58 | 4 | ||||
| 2020 | 27 | 1 | 13 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | 12[b] | 1 | — | 54 | 3 | ||||
| Total | 96 | 4 | 27 | 2 | 12 | 1 | — | 17 | 1 | 17 | 3 | 169 | 11 | |||
| Kashima Antlers | 2021 | J1 League | 26 | 2 | — | 4 | 0 | 7 | 0 | — | — | 37 | 2 | |||
| 2022 | 28 | 1 | — | 4 | 1 | 3 | 1 | — | — | 35 | 3 | |||||
| 2023 | 31 | 3 | — | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — | — | 37 | 3 | |||||
| Total | 85 | 6 | — | 9 | 1 | 15 | 1 | — | — | 109 | 8 | |||||
| Santos | 2024 | Série B | 35 | 4 | 15 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 50 | 5 | ||||
| Career total | 249 | 14 | 201 | 21 | 21 | 2 | 15 | 1 | 17 | 1 | 28 | 3 | 531 | 42 | ||
- Appearance(s) in Copa Paulista
- Appearance(s) in Copa Libertadores
- Appearance(s) in Copa Sudamericana
Honours
Club
- Matonense
- Botafogo-SP
Individual
- Campeonato Paulista Team of the Year: 2019,[28] 2024[29]
References
External links
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