Leaving all speculation and inferences outside the brackets, today we will try to follow how the eminent Spanish player's career developed in order to present to your attention a detailed story about the career path of one of the best strikers in the world.
Early years and early career of David Villa on the football field
The future star of the Spanish national team first lit up in the small provincial town of Langreo, located in the northern part of Spain. David's father was a miner, and therefore the future footballer saw him quite rarely. Despite this fact, my father always helped the future footballer as best he could. He became the first coach for little David, and then he personally assigned him to one of the local sports schools.It is worth noting that the future footballer dreamed of playing # 1 since childhood. Day and night, he chased the ball with his friends and neighborhood boys. However, such a passion almost cost the boy his health. The thing is that at the age of four, David Villa broke the hip of his right leg. After that, for a long time there were suspicions that the guy would not be able to walk normally at all. But, thank God, the worst fears were not justified. The boy recovered and started playing football again.
At this stage, his father played an important role in the fate of his son. It was he who worked long and hard with his son, trying to give him the necessary loads to strengthen his legs. It is quite remarkable that the emphasis during training was on the left leg, although by nature Villa is right-handed. As a result, the guy managed to learn to masterfully control both legs, which helped him a lot in his future career.
In 1991, the young footballer began to play for the youth team of the semi-professional club "Langreo". In this team, the footballer spent eight years, during which he improved his innate skill and ability to handle the ball.
It is quite remarkable that David Villa was by no means in this group in the leading roles. Even in minor league games, the footballer often found himself on the bench. Often there were conflicts with the coach, which once made the player seriously think about parting with football.
However, at a difficult moment, the young guy was again supported by his father. And some time later, another significant event happened in the striker's life - the coaches of Sporting Gijon noticed the player and invited him to continue his career in their club. So, the young player ended up in the main team of Asturias.
David Villa - Top 10 goals
Professional career of David Villa
In this team, the striker's affairs went much better. He very soon became the leader of the club's youth team, and some time later he was transferred to the main team. In 2000, he first appeared on the field in an official match of Sporting, but he could not immediately gain a foothold in the team and was transferred for a year to Sporting B - the club's backup team, playing in the third-strongest division in Spain.Having played a year in the “double”, David Villa got stronger and returned to the main clip as a completely different player. In the 2001/2002 season, the striker became the main player in the clip. Moreover, very soon the bright striker was promoted to leading roles in Sporting Gijon. With his arrival, not enough stars from the sky, the team instantly transformed and began to represent a formidable force by the standards of Segunda (the second most powerful Spanish division). In total, the player spent two seasons in this team, during which he entered the field eighty times in the Sporting shirt and thirty-nine times hit the rivals' goal.
Already during this period, it became clear that a modest club by Spanish standards would not be able to keep a goal-driven striker. In the end, this is what happened. And, having left Sporting Gijon playing in Segunda, David Villa moved to the more prosperous Real Zaragoza club.
David Villa - Best Goals Ever
As part of this team, the forward made his debut in Example (top division of Spain). During the three years spent in Zaragoza, the striker managed to become the favorite of the public and the main scorer of the club. It is very noteworthy that while still a player in the modest Zaragoza, David Villa began to be called up for the first time in the national team. From that moment on, the player's career has been steadily moving upward.
In 2005, the forward became a player of the Valencia football club (one of the most titled teams in the history of Spanish football). This team has always been in leading roles in Spain, but almost never won any significant trophies. Such an alignment could hardly suit the bright striker, who by that time had managed to become a real star of the Spanish national team. Therefore, after five seasons at Valencia, the player moved to Barcelona, in which he made an attacking bunch with Argentinean Leonel Messi.
David Villa now
To date, David Villa is the top scorer in the history of the Spanish national team, as well as European Champion, World Champion, holder of two sets of gold medals in the Spanish Championship (as part of Barcelona), as well as many and many other awards. Today David Villa remains one of the most successful center-strikers in the history of world football. 
Personal life of David Villa
David Villa managed to achieve considerable success in his personal life. In 2003, he married Patricia Gonzalez, whom, according to the player himself, he had been in love since childhood. It is quite remarkable that in her youth, the girl professionally played women's football. In a marriage with this pretty beauty, David Vilya had three children - two daughters (Saida and Olaya) and a son, Luke.There are speaking surnames in the world. This is exactly what the Spanish super-productive footballer David Villa has. "Villa" is Spanish for "village", and he was born in the village of Tuilla, in the municipality of Langreo, which, in turn, is located in the northern Spanish province of Asturias.
Villa de Villa
It is not hard to guess that his parents were not rich. His father worked at the Langreo mine and purposefully raised his son as a football player. Already at the age of four, David drove the ball. At this age, he suffered a serious injury - a fracture of the femur. In the future, David paid tribute to his father, who always supported him in playing football and showed persistence in his attitude towards his son, when difficulties pushed him to engage in sports in his youth.
And there were enough difficulties. The team of the football school "Langreo", for example, did not agree with the coach. I had to go to the “Mareo”, where the talent of the bombardier Villa, who is from the village, showed itself.
Villa - "nuevilla"
David's exploits in youth football interested all the clubs in Asturias. However, father and son Villa turned their footsteps into the front line of the Oviedo provincial team. However, the Asturian “Real” considered David unpromising, apparently due to unimpressive physical data. Say, in adult football, they'll screw up a guy.
This was not a tragedy for the newcomer Villa. Fortunately, there was also Sporting Gijon who played in the Segunda (second division) of Spain. They did not dwell on the growth of David Villa. Dali played “Nuevilla” in the second team, where he showed his promise. Therefore, the main team of “Sporting” was included without fear and there quickly became the main attacking weapon. Then came the inevitable in the biography of David Villa - the transition to a more classy team.
Villa - "maravilla"
She became “Zaragoza”, which is also officially called “Real”. It was here that David received his first rhymed nickname from journalists. Maravilla is magic. This was the name given to Villa's decisive goal against Real Madrid (3: 2) in the 2003-04 Spanish Cup final. If before someone did not notice Vilya, then after this goal absolutely everyone saw their sight. The following year, he even received an invitation to the national team. It was also a historic event for Zaragoza. “Real” from Zaragoza, although “Real”, but does not apply to the giants of Spanish football. Therefore, David had to leave her.
Villa - Efikasilla
Perhaps the full talent of Villa manifested itself in “Valencia” - a team that is now not the leader of Spanish football, but with a glorious past and great ambitions. Valencia (pictured by David Villa) won only one Spanish Cup, but it was in this team that he became the top scorer of Spain four times in five seasons. Such efficiency ("efikasia" - in Spanish) was inherent only to the titans of the past like Di Stefano. But that was then, and Villa was playing now!
Villa - "campeonilla"
The Spanish national team - the champion ("campeon" - in Spanish) of Europe in 2008 and the champion of the world in 2010 - cannot be imagined without David Villa. Memories of these tournaments will always start with his name. In addition, Villa rewrote almost all of the national team's scorer records on himself.
Villa - "traumilla"
The inevitable happened once again. Further in his career there should have been “giants”: either Real Madrid or Barcelona. Villa chose a Catalan club. In Barcelona he reached all the peaks, but in the company of great football players his talent was no longer so prominent. David's game faded somewhat - he no longer played in the best scorers of Examples. In “Barcelona” came two injuries (“trauma” - in Spanish), which he had previously happily avoided, despite the harshness, impudence, and sometimes meanness of the Spanish defenders. Due to one of the injuries, I even had to miss the 2012 European Championship. It also turned out that David is not very comfortable in Catalonia. He decided to change the scenery. “Barcelona” tried to keep the striker, but where there, if they offer more than five million dollars.
Villa - "Colchonilla"
David left not just anywhere, but intending to finally be reborn from the ashes of Atletico Madrid. "Mattresses" ("kolchones" - the nickname "Atlético" because of its red and white striped uniform, according to legend, it was from the mattress fabric that the first team uniform was sewn) were going to win all possible prizes. Although Villa was far from shining, he helped the club become the champion of Spain for the first time in 18 years and reach the Champions League final.
Villa - "americanilla"
A season at Atlético has shown that David's youth is behind him. Yes, and it could not be eternal, of course. With a light heart, David went to the United States to create his “maravilla” in “New York City” (his arrival in the economic capital of the United States was preceded by a short lease in the Australian “Melbourne City”), playing in the local MLS league. The level of football here, of course, is lower than in the Spanish Example, but which side to kick the ball from, in the USA they already know very well. Therefore, the two MLS Most Valuable Player titles surprised many. Apparently, the "village" guy has not yet said his last word. This is confirmed by the video of Villa's 10 best goals last season.
Villa - "Phenomenilla"
What is the secret of football stars, they argue and discuss constantly. Let's add fuel to the fire and try to reveal Villa's secret. Phenomenon ("phenomenon" - in Spanish) - in a happy combination of speed qualities, technical skill, dexterity, quickness of game thinking and scoring instinct. It is impossible to say what is primary in this list and what is secondary. It is all together that allow this footballer to be recorded in world history as Vilyu - "maravilla".
Dossier
David Villa Sanchez (Spain). Villa
Football player.
Born on 03.12.1981 in Langreo (province of Asturias).
Position: forward.
Anthropometrics: 175 cm, 69 kg.
- 2000-03 - Sporting CP (Gijon, Spain) - 80 games, 39 goals;
- 2000-01 - Sporting B (Gijon, Spain) - 36 games, 14 goals;
- 2003-05 - Zaragoza (Spain) - 73 games, 32 goals;
- 2005-10 - Valencia (Spain) - 166 games, 107 goals;
- 2010-13 - Barcelona (Spain) - 77 games, 33 goals;
- 2013-14 - Atlético Madrid, Spain - 36 games, 13 goals;
- 2014 - Melbourne City (Australia) - 4 games, 2 goals;
- from 2014 - New York City (USA) - 104 games, 69 goals;
- In the Spanish national team (2005-17) - 98 games, 59 goals.
Achievements:
- Spanish Cup 2004, 2008, 2011, 2014.
- Spanish Super Cup 2004, 2010, 2011.
- The best scorer of the Spanish championships in 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010.
- The best football player in Spain in 2006.
- "Gold" of Europe in 2008.
- In the symbolic European team in 2008.
- "Bronze" of the 2009 Confederations Cup.
- "Gold" of the world in 2010.
- In the symbolic world team (FIFA version) of 2010.
- Best Athlete of Asturias 2010.
- Champion of Spain 2011, 2013.
- Winner of the Champions League 2011.
- Winner of the European Super Cup 2011.
- Gold Medal of the Royal Order of Sporting Merit (Spain) 2011.
- Silver medalist at the 2013 Confederations Cup.
- Most Valuable Player of the MLS (US Championship) 2016, 2017.
- Record holder of the Spanish national team in goals at the world championships (9).
- The top scorer in the history of the Spanish national team (59).
Personal life:
Married to Patricia Gonzalez. They have two daughters - Saida (13 years old) and Olalia (8 years old), as well as a son Luka (5 years old).
Public life:
- In 2007, he appeared alongside Brazilian Ronaldinho on the FIFA 07 video game box, which also included an interview with the player as a bonus.
- In 2008 he participated in the campaign for the recognition of the Asturian language as the official language of the province of Asturias.
- In 2008, he organized for the first time a charity match "Friends of Villa against Friends of Mejuto" (Mehuto is a famous Spanish football referee, countryman of Villa). Since then, this is traditionally held on Catholic Christmas. The faces of famous Spanish athletes, artists and musicians constantly appear in the teams.
- In May 2010, he released the DVD "Learn to Play with David Villa", which includes football lessons, as well as a documentary about Villa and a video for the song "Villa maravilla" (Magic Villa).
- In July 2012, he publicly supported the strike of miners in his native Langreo, stressing that he himself comes from a mining family.
During his turbulent football career, David Villa played in several famous clubs in Europe and even played for one of the American teams. He is a master of dribbling and long passes.
Childhood
The footballer was born on December 3, 1981 in Langreo, in the northern part of the country. His father was a miner and loved football all his life. He personally trained David when the boy was still young. Later, Villa Sr. began to take his child to classes at the Mareo Sports School. At the age of four, David suffered a fracture of his right leg, but his father did not stop training his son. Since that time, the footballer has a well-developed left leg.
At one time, young David had long-term disagreements with the coaching staff of "Mareo" and he was going to leave the sport, but on the insistent recommendation of his father, the teenager continued to play football. In 1991 he already trained at FC Langreo.
Sporting
Seventeen-year-old Vilyu wanted to get many teams from the Spanish province. He chose Sporting from Gijón. In the first season, David was mainly on the bench, and after a year of his time in the team he was taken to the main team and he became a striker. After two seasons with Sporting, Villa became the club's leader and top scorer. During this time, he scored 42 years. The penalty kick was mostly trusted only to him.
Zaragoza
David then moved to Zaragoza from Examples, where he again became a full-time penalty player and the club's top scorer. In his first season alone, he managed to hit the opponent's goal seventeen times. As part of Zaragoza, Villa first distinguished himself with a double and a hat-trick. This club under David won the Spanish Cup. In the UEFA Cup, the team reached the 1/8.
Valencia
From that time on, Villa began to interest the management of several well-known clubs in Spain and from them he chose Valencia. With David's participation, the team took third place in the Spanish championship, and in 2008 won the country's Cup.
Barcelona
Villa started playing for Barcelona two years later. His transfer from Valencia to this renowned Catalan club cost the owners of Barcelona 42 million euros.
As part of the team, David won the Spanish Cup, twice became the champion of the country and won the Champions League.
Atlético
In 2011, Villa was seriously injured. He had a broken tibia on his leg. For half a year, David did not enter the field. But when he returned, he again became a striker for Barcelona, with which he still had to part and go to play in the capital Atletico. Villa's transfer cost the owners of the Madrid club five million euros. For this team, David played 36 matches and hit the opponent's goal thirteen times.
In 2014, he left for America, where he took to the field with MLS New York City. Before that, Villa managed to play in the Australian club Melbourne City. In the New York team, he was entrusted with the function of captain.
Spain squad
The footballer first appeared in the Spanish national team at the beginning of 2005, and made his debut by hitting the ball into the opponent's goal just six months later. Villa took part in the World Championship, which was held on German soil. With his help, the team defeated the Ukrainian national team. He also scored the first goal for the French. The Spaniards managed to get only to 1/8.
In 2008, at the European Championship, David scored a hat-trick against the Russian national team, and then scored the decisive goal against the Swedish team. With his help, the Spaniards were in the playoffs. Two years later, Villa helped the Spanish national team win the world championship title. In 2014, David struck the opponent's goal in a game with the Australians.
In 2003, he married Patricia Gonzalez. There are three children in their family.
David Villa was born in a small village in the Principality of Asturias, in northern Spain, into a mining family. A big role in his development as a football player was played by his father - Jose Manuel Villa not only personally took his son to a football school, but also coached him, 4-year-old David broke his right leg.
“My right leg was in a cast, and my father was throwing balls at me so that I could hit with my left foot,”
recalled the footballer. It was these trainings, according to Villa himself, that led to the fact that he, a right-hander by nature, began to masterfully wield his left leg.
Sporting Gijon
2000-2003
At the age of 17, Villa signed a contract with Sporting Gijon, for which he made his debut in the 2000-2001 season, but played only one game and was sent to the second team. However, a year later, the young striker was returned to the first team, and, as it turned out, not in vain.
In two seasons in Segunda (Sporting was then in the second division of the Spanish championship), Villa scored 42 goals, becoming the top scorer and one of the leaders of the club. The fact that 19-year-old David became a regular penalty taker of the club speaks volumes about the confidence in the young guy.
Real Madrid Zaragoza
2003-2005
It was clear that Villa would not stay long in Gijón, and in 2003 he went to be promoted to Zaragoza, which played in Primer. David did not get lost there, in the very first season he became the team's top scorer (21 goals, 17 of them in the championship).
In the same place, Villa won his first trophy - the Spanish Cup. In the final, Zaragoza also won Real Madrid 3-2 in extra time, while Villa scored his team's second goal.
This win allowed the club to play in the UEFA Cup and David Villa made his European debut. His goals helped the team get out of the group and then beat the Turkish Fenerbahce, but in the 1/8 finals, Zaragoza lost to Austria due to more goals conceded at home.
Interestingly, with the transfer to the club of the elite division, David Villa's performance has not actually changed - in two seasons spent at Zaragoza, he scored 40 goals - just 2 less than for the previous club. Unsurprisingly, the 22-year-old striker has its eye on the top clubs in Spain.
Valencia
2005-2010
As a result, David Villa ended up in Valencia. Of course, the “bats” have somewhat lost their positions (in the early 2000s, “Valencia” was the champion of Spain and reached the Champions League final), but still this team was constantly fighting for a place in the four.
Already in the first season, David Villa scored 25 goals in the league, and Valencia moved from seventh to the third place in the standings. And in the 2008-2009 season, David Villa will repeat the record achievement for the club's forwards - 28 goals in the Spanish Championship. Back in Valencia, David Villa managed to score a goal from the center of the field - Deportivo suffered.
In Valencia, David Villa showed himself as an assistant, with his technique and manner of play it is not at all surprising, but still it is not quite typical for the scorer. For example, in the 2006-2007 season, David Villa with 12 successful passes became the best assistant in Examples.
But things did not go well with trophies - David Villa's collection was replenished only with the Spanish Cup, won by the team in 2008. In addition, in Valencia, Villa became the main striker of the Spanish national team, winning the European and World Championships with it (David Villa went to the 2010 World Cup as a Barcelona player, but at that time he did not play any official match).
It was clear to everyone that David had long outgrown the level of his club and should play in a top-level team.
Barcelona
2010-2013
Justice was fulfilled on May 19, 2010 - it was on this day that David Villa signed a contract with Barcelona, which paid 42 million euros for his transfer.
In May, Villa fit perfectly into the attacking game of the Catalan club, because he was not just a forward - the end of the attacks, but a full-fledged participant in the attacking actions of the team, able to play along and give an assist.
In Catalonia, Villa has finally amassed a collection of titles befitting a player of his level: two championships, a national cup, and the Champions League. Playing for Barcelona, Villa began to score a little less, but this is not surprising given the level of the Catalan club's attacking players.
And his most memorable goals for Barça are, perhaps, the double in “”, when Real Madrid was defeated with a score of 5: 0 and the third goal against Manchester United in the London 2011 Champions League final, which finally decided the outcome of the meeting.
In December 2011, David Villa received a serious injury - a fracture of the tibia of his left leg. Recovery took more than six months, due to injury, David Villa missed Euro 2012, and after returning to duty, the striker could no longer regain his former positions in the club.
No, he did not stop getting into the starting lineup, did not stop scoring (although he did it much less often), but this is Barcelona and if you are not the best, you give way to others.
Atlético Madrid
2013-2014
So Villa ended up in Atletico Madrid, which paid a little over 5 million euros for his transfer - ridiculous money for a player of this level.
The main striker of the “mattress” was, but Villa's contribution to the championship won by the club cannot be underestimated - he played 36 of 38 matches, scored 13 goals and gave 4 assists.
It is symbolic that David Villa won the league title with the new club at the Camp Nou (Atlético became the champion in the last round match after a draw with Barcelona), as if removing the crown from his previous team.
But in the Champions League with Atlético, David Villa did not manage to win. The team was separated from victory by some not even minutes, but, probably, seconds, but Sergio Ramos moved the game into overtime, where Real was already stronger.
"New York city"
2014-present
And in May 2014, David Villa signed a contract with the MLS club New York City. Since the season in the North American League has already ended, David flew to Australia, where he played for Melbourne City.
The Spaniard is now the captain of New York City and is playing alongside Andrea Pirlo. Villa continues to delight fans with his game and goals.
In America, he again succeeded a masterpiece - in the 90th minute of the regular season match, David Villa scored a goal from the center of the field against Philadelphia. At the end of 2016, Villa was recognized as the most valuable player in the MLS.
Spain squad
2005-2014
David Villa made his national team debut in February 2005 against San Marino in the 2006 World Cup qualifier, and scored his first national team goal in the fourth match, hitting Slovakia.
The first major tournament at the national team level for Villa was the World Cup in Germany, where he scored a double against the Ukrainian national team and opened the scoring in the match with the French in the 1/8 finals, which, however, did not help the Spaniards - they lost 1: 3.
At Euro 2008, the Russian team suffered from the actions of David Villa - in the first round match he scored a hat-trick against Igor Akinfeev, and in the second round he scored the winning goal in the last minute of the match with the Swedes. In fact, then the goals of David Villa opened the way for Spain to the playoffs.
But the most, in my opinion, the strongest tournament, Villa held in 2010. Then the Spaniards began their journey to the championship with a defeat from the Swiss national team. In the second round, David Villa's double brought Spain a difficult victory over the uncompromising Honduras, and in the third, he opened the scoring against the Chileans. He scored a goal in the 1/8 finals of Portugal and in the quarterfinals of Paraguay - both matches ended with the victory of the Spaniards 1: 0. Thus, before the semifinals, Villa scored 5 of 6 goals of his team. It is quite possible that without him the Spanish national team would not have won the world championship.
David Villa missed the 2012 European Championship due to injury, and at the 2014 World Cup played only in the final round against Australia, when the Spaniards had already said goodbye to the tournament. Having scored a goal in this match, David Villa said goodbye to the Spanish national team, having played 97 matches and scored 59 goals.
David Villa titles
Team
- Three times champion of Spain.
- Three-time Spanish Cup winner.
- Three-time Spanish Super Cup winner.
- Champions League winner.
- Winner of the European Super Cup.
- World champion.
- European Champion.
Individual
- The best football player in Spain 2006
- The best scorer of the 2008 European Championship.
- Top scorer of the 2010 World Cup.
- The top scorer of the Spanish national team - 59 goals.
Family and personal life of David Villa
Since 2003, David Villa has been married to Patricia Gonzalez, they have two daughters - Saida and Olalia, as well as a son, Luca.
- The first club of David Villa could be Real Oviedo, but they refused to sign a contract, considering the player unpromising.
- In his first three clubs, David Villa has consistently become the top scorer in the first season.
- Villa scored a hat-trick in his 100th game for Valencia.
- Despite his performance, David Villa has never been able to become the top scorer of the Spanish championship. But the "Sarah Trophy" (the prize for the best scorer - the Spaniard) Villiers got four times.
- In August 2011, David Villa and Mesut Ozil were sent off after a skirmish in the Classico against Real Madrid. As the German later said, the quarrel was due to the fact that David Villa insulted Islam.
- Villi also had conflicts with his teammates - during one of the match he quarreled with Leo Messi when he began to complain to Villa for a shot off the goal instead of a pass.
Recently, it was reported that David Villa is retiring, but the striker has extended his contract with New York City, which means that he will still delight the audience with his game. The path is even just overseas.
David Villa (photos below) - striker of the Madrid football club "Atlético" and the Spanish national team - was born in the family of a miner in the small town of Tuillier on December 3, 1981. Since childhood, he dreamed of becoming a football player. The father supported his son's love for this sport, so he even trained with him.
First failures in football
As a successful footballer, David Villa could not have taken place. The reason lies in a fracture of the right hip, which he received at the age of four. Because of this, he was forced to spend about six months in a cast. However, thanks to the support of his father, he continued to practice and practice strikes with his healthy left leg, which greatly helped him in the future.
The player himself has repeatedly admitted that due to disagreements with the coach of the local school, he could have quit playing football at one time. The fact is that the mentor did not give him a lot of playing practice, so Villa spent almost all of his time on the bench. However, with the support of the Pope, he found the strength to continue the struggle.
Start of a professional career
His first attempt to enroll in a professional club school also ended in failure. Representatives of Oviedo said at the time that they did not see enough potential in a player like David Villa. His biography as a football player began with the Mareo club from the town of Langreo, where he moved at the age of 17. A year after that, the guy received an invitation from Gijon "Sporting", whose academy gave the football world such talents as Angulo and Keene.
The 2000/2001 season was David's debut at the professional level. Then he began to get into the starting lineup of the team quite often. This allowed him to score forty goals in less than two years, and Sporting itself rose to the top Spanish football division.
Zaragoza
In 2003, the club found itself in a rather difficult financial situation, so it was forced to sell David. In the summer, he signed a contract with Zaragoza, which set his annual salary at three million euros. The striker did not have any problems with adaptation, which was vividly confirmed by 17 goals scored in the "Example". In the final match of the Spanish National Cup in 2004, David Villa helped his team beat Real Madrid with one of the goals scored. Winning this tournament subsequently gave him the opportunity to make his international debut in the UEFA Cup.
Valencia
Playing for Zaragoza, the footballer gained recognition throughout the country. Here local giants began to pay attention to him. As a result, in 2005 David moved to Valencia, playing for which, in the first season, he was able to score 25 goals in 37 matches. According to this indicator, he took second place in the championship after Cameroonian Samuel Eto "o from Barcelona. Later he consistently became the team's top scorer. In the 2008/2009 season, David Villa scored 28 goals, thereby repeating the record that was held for 65 years.
Barcelona
In May 2010, Catalan FC Barcelona paid 42 million euros for the transfer of this striker. At the same time, in the player's contract, calculated for four years, a salary of 7 million euros per year was spelled out. The excitement around this transfer was so high that about 46 thousand spectators attended the presentation ceremony of the new football player. As part of his new team, David made his debut in the match against Sevilla under A, in the first match of the Spanish championship against Racing, he managed to score a goal.
During the semifinal game at the club world championship, which was held in December 2011 in Japan, the striker suffered an injury to his left leg, which did not allow him to take part in the European Championship as part of the country's national team. The player returned to official appearances on August 11, 2012. It should be noted that over the years of playing for Barcelona, he managed to become a triumphant in all the most prestigious competitions. Be that as it may, in 2013, for 5.1 million euros, he moved to Club Atlético from Madrid, thus starting a new stage in his career.
Spain squad
David Villa has made great strides in his performances for the Spanish national team. In particular, he became the record holder for the number of goals scored. He hit the gates of his rivals in official tournaments 56 times. It should be noted that the previous record (44 goals) belonged to the legendary Raul. During his performances in the national team, he managed to win the title of European and world champion.
Personal life
David Villa and his wife Patricia Gonzalez met in childhood. The marriage between them was concluded in 2003. No matter how surprising it was, the wife of a famous player was professionally involved in football in her youth. The family has three children - two girls and a boy. An interesting fact is that the middle daughter is named after the wife of Fernando Torres, who has long been friends with Patricia Gonzalez.