Claudio Matías Kranevitter (Spanish pronunciation: [maˈti.as kɾaneˈβiteɾ]; born 21 May 1993) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Argentine Primera División club River Plate.

Matías Kranevitter
Kranevitter with Zenit in 2017
Personal information
Full name Claudio Matías Kranevitter[1]
Date of birth (1993-05-21) 21 May 1993 (age 31)
Place of birth San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Defensive midfielder
Team information
Current team
River Plate
Number 5
Youth career
San Martín-T
2007–2012 River Plate
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011–2015 River Plate 58 (0)
2015–2017 Atlético Madrid 8 (0)
2016–2017Sevilla (loan) 21 (0)
2017–2019 Zenit 29 (0)
2020–2022 Monterrey 90 (1)
2023– River Plate 21 (0)
International career
2012–2013 Argentina U20 4 (0)
2015–2017 Argentina 9 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 19:11, 2 May 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 11 November 2017 (UTC)

Club career

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River Plate

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Born in San Miguel de Tucumán, Kranevitter started his career at San Martín de Tucumán's youth setup, but left the club at the age of 12 due to his family's poor financial situation. In 2007, aged 14, he joined River Plate after impressing on a trial.[2][3]

After being initially assigned to the reserves, Kranevitter was also a member of the under-20s during its U-20 Copa Libertadores winning campaign in 2012. On 2 December of that year he made his first team debut, coming on as a second-half substitute in a 1–0 home win against Lanús.[4]

Kranevitter was promoted to the main squad by new manager Ramón Díaz. Initially a backup to Leonardo Ponzio and Cristian Ledesma, he appeared in 30 matches during the 2013–14 season, 16 as a starter, overcoming the latter midway through the campaign.[5]

In September 2014, already a regular starter, Kranevitter suffered a metatarsus injury, being ruled out until the following year.[6] In October, however, he trained with crutches[7] and returned to action in late November,[8] being utilized in both legs of 2014 Copa Sudamericana Finals.

Atlético Madrid

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On 25 August 2015, La Liga side Atlético Madrid reached an agreement with River for the sale of Kranevitter, for a rumoured fee of 8 million.[9] He was officially announced three days later, being immediately loaned back to River until December.[10]

Assigned to the main squad in January 2016, Kranevitter was handed the no. 8 shirt. He made his debut in the main category on 14 February, coming on as a substitute for goalscorer Fernando Torres in a 1–0 away win against Getafe CF.[11]

Sevilla (loan)

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On 7 July 2016, Kranevitter was loaned to fellow top-tier club Sevilla FC, in a season-long deal.[12]

Zenit

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On 8 August 2017, he moved to the Russian Premier League club FC Zenit Saint Petersburg, signing a 4-year contract. He joined his former River Plate teammates Sebastián Driussi and Emanuel Mammana at the club.[13] On 24 January 2020 Zenit confirmed that Kranevitter left the club.[14]

Monterrey

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On 26 January 2020, Kranevitter joined Liga MX club Monterrey.[15]

Return to River Plate

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On 12 December 2022, Kranevitter returned to River Plate, signing a 3-year contract.[16]

International career

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Kranevitter plays for Argentina national team against Russia in 2017

Kranevitter represented Argentina at under-20 level in 2013 South American Youth Football Championship. He appeared in three matches, all as a starter, as his side was knocked out in the group stage.

On 24 August 2015, Kranevitter was called up to the main squad for two friendlies against Bolivia and Mexico as a replacement to injured Lucas Biglia.[17] He made his full international debut on 4 September, starting in a 7–0 routing of the former at the BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston.[18]

Kranevitter was nominated in the 2016 Copa América squad and was part of the Argentine side that ran to the final. He was subbed on in the 57th minute of the final against Chile, which Chile won 4–2 on penalties.

Style of play

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Mainly a defensive midfielder, Kranevitter excels at breaking up play, shielding the defense and dictating the tempo and speed the team plays at. Although not very physical, he is known for his usually clean and well-timed tackles and his good defensive positioning.[19][20]

Kranevitter is often compared to Javier Mascherano, due to both being River Plate youth graduates and having the same playing style.[21][22]

Personal life

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Kranevitter also played golf during his youth, and stated that he "would be a golfer if he hadn't chosen football".[23]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of match played 21 May 2023
Club Season League Cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
River Plate 2012–13 Argentine Primera División 5 0 0 0 5 0
2013–14 29 0 0 0 6 0 35 0
2014 6 0 0 0 4 0 10 0
2015 17 0 0 0 19 0 5[a] 0 41 0
Total 57 0 0 0 29 0 5 0 91 0
Atlético Madrid 2015–16 La Liga 8 0 2 0 1 0 11 0
Total 8 0 2 0 1 0 - 11 0
Sevilla 2016–17 La Liga 21 0 4 0 4 0 3[b] 0 32 0
Total 21 0 4 0 4 0 3 0 32 0
Zenit Saint Petersburg 2017–18 Russian Premier League 21 0 0 0 12 0 33 0
2018–19 6 0 2 0 7 0 15 0
2019–20 2 0 2 0 0 0 4 0
Total 29 0 4 0 19 0 0 0 52 0
Monterrey 2019–20 Liga MX 3 0 4 0 7 0
2020–21 35 0 0 0 7 0 2[c] 0 44 0
2021–22 33 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 33 1
2022–23 19 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 19 0
Total 90 1 4 0 7 0 2 0 103 1
River Plate 2023 Argentine Primera División 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 3 0
Career total 119 0 14 0 53 0 8 0 292 1

Notes

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  1. ^ Two appearances in Recopa Sudamericana, two appearances in FIFA World Cup, one appearance in Suruga Bank Championship
  2. ^ Two appearances in Supercopa de España, one appearance in UEFA Super Cup
  3. ^ Appearances in FIFA Club World Cup

International

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As of 11 November 2017[24]
Argentina
Year Appears Goals
2015 3 0
2016 5 0
2017 1 0
Total 9 0

Honours

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River Plate

Zenit

Monterrey

Argentina

Individual

References

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  1. ^ "FIFA Club World Cup Japan 2015: List of Players: River Plate" (PDF). FIFA. 11 December 2015. p. 5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 December 2015.
  2. ^ "Kranevitter: "Soy un luchador"" [Kranevitter: "I am a fighter"] (in Spanish). Clarín. 11 February 2014. Retrieved 15 December 2015.
  3. ^ "Kranevitter, la promesa de River, que era caddie de golf para ayudar a su familia" [Kranevitter, the pearl of River, who was a caddy in golf to help his family] (in Spanish). La Nación. Retrieved 15 December 2015.
  4. ^ "Ante los ojos de Ramón Díaz, River ganó y amargó a Lanús" [Under the eyes of Ramón Díaz, River won and bittered Lanús] (in Spanish). ESPN Deportes. 2 December 2012. Retrieved 15 December 2015.[dead link]
  5. ^ "¿Cómo Kranevitter se volvió un gran jugador?" [How Kranevitter became a great player?] (in Spanish). Goal. 5 August 2015. Retrieved 15 December 2015.
  6. ^ "Confirmado: la lesión de Kranevitter es una fractura y no jugará hasta 2015" [Confirmed: the injury of Kranevitter is a fracture and he will not play until 2015] (in Spanish). Infobae. 22 September 2014. Retrieved 15 December 2015.
  7. ^ "Kranevitter ya quiere largar las muletas para volver a jugar" [Kranevitter already wants to let go of the crutches to return playing] (in Spanish). La Gaceta. 8 October 2014. Retrieved 15 December 2015.
  8. ^ "Buenas noticias para River: Matías Kranevitter vuelve para el partido ante Banfield" [Good news for River: Matías Kranevitter returns for the match against Banfield] (in Spanish). El Intransigente. 29 November 2014. Archived from the original on 8 November 2017. Retrieved 15 December 2015.
  9. ^ "Kranevitter, cerrado" [Kranevitter, signed]. Marca (in Spanish). 25 August 2015. Retrieved 15 December 2015.
  10. ^ "Matías Kranevitter is now an Atlético". Atlético's official website. 28 August 2015. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 15 December 2015.
  11. ^ "A quien madruga..." [In the early bird...]. Marca (in Spanish). 14 February 2016. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
  12. ^ "Kranevitter llega cedido por una temporada" [Kranevitter arrives on loan for one season] (in Spanish). Sevilla FC. 7 July 2016. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
  13. ^ Матиас Краневиттер продолжит карьеру в «Зените» (in Russian). FC Zenit Saint Petersburg. 8 August 2017.
  14. ^ "Матиас Краневиттер покидает Санкт-Петербург" (Press release) (in Russian). FC Zenit Saint Petersburg. 24 January 2020.
  15. ^ "¡BIENVENIDO, MATÍAS KRANEVITTER!". Rayados (in Spanish). 26 January 2020. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  16. ^ "Matías Kranevitter, nuevo jugador de River Plate". caRiverPlate.com.ar (in Spanish). 12 December 2022. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  17. ^ "Matías Kranevitter y Emmanuel Mas se suman a la gira de la selección argentina por Estados Unidos" [Matías Kranevitter and Emmanuel Mas join the trip of Argentina national team in the United States] (in Spanish). La Nación. 24 August 2015. Retrieved 15 December 2015.
  18. ^ "Kranevitter provides Argentina hope for the future in Bolivia hammering". 5 September 2015.
  19. ^ "Generation Next: Matias Kranevitter – River Plate's midfield general". Just Football. 29 May 2015. Retrieved 5 December 2015.
  20. ^ "Cinco se nace y se hace" [A '5' is born and is made] (in Spanish). Olé. 11 September 2014. Retrieved 15 December 2015.
  21. ^ "Kranevitter, el nuevo "Mascherano" de Simeone" [Kranevitter, Simeone's new "Mascherano"] (in Spanish). Libertad Digital. 21 August 2014. Retrieved 15 December 2015.
  22. ^ "Kranevitter es el sucesor de Mascherano" [Kranevitter is the successor of Mascherano] (in Spanish). Diario AS. 4 September 2015. Retrieved 15 December 2015.
  23. ^ "Kranevitter contó sus inicios como caddie de su primo, el "Pigu" Romero" [Kranevitter told his beginnings as a caddie of his cousin, "Pigu" Romero] (in Spanish). In Deportes. 28 April 2015. Archived from the original on 26 September 2015. Retrieved 15 December 2015.
  24. ^ "Matías Kranevitter". National Football Teams. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
  25. ^ "Zenit is the Russian Premier League champion" (in Russian). Russian Premier League. 4 May 2019.
  26. ^ "20 Zenit players became Russian champions for the first time" (in Russian). FC Zenit Saint Petersburg. 4 May 2019.
  27. ^ "Zenit crowned 2019/20 RPL champions". Russian Premier League. 5 July 2020.
  28. ^ "Late Dzyuba penalty seals Russian Cup for Zenit". Russian Premier League. 25 July 2020.
  29. ^ "El XI ideal de la Copa Libertadores 2015" [The best XI of Copa Libertadores 2015] (in Spanish). Pasión Libertadores. 7 August 2015. Retrieved 15 December 2015.
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