Óscar Romero (footballer)

Óscar David Romero Villamayor (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈoskaɾ roˈmeɾo]; born 4 July 1992) is a Paraguayan professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Campeonato Brasileiro Série A club Botafogo and the Paraguay national team. He is the twin brother of Ángel Romero.[1]

Óscar Romero
Romero with Paraguay in 2018
Personal information
Full name Óscar David Romero Villamayor
Date of birth (1992-07-04) 4 July 1992 (age 31)
Place of birth Fernando de la Mora, Paraguay
Height 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s) Attacking midfielder
Team information
Current team
Botafogo
Number 7
Youth career
2005–2011 Cerro Porteño
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011–2014 Cerro Porteño 90 (13)
2015–2016 Racing Club 47 (9)
2017–2019 Shanghai Shenhua 26 (4)
2017Alavés (loan) 18 (0)
2019–2021 San Lorenzo 46 (5)
2022–2023 Boca Juniors 44 (4)
2023 Pendikspor 12 (3)
2024 Botafogo 0 (0)
International career
2013– Paraguay 55 (4)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 19 March 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 16:30, 27 January 2022 (UTC)

Career edit

Romero was in the youth ranks of Boca Juniors when he was a Sub 15, but could not continue at the club for a matter of paperwork, therefore he did not play for the Xeneize.

Cerro Porteño edit

Romero joined the youth ranks of Cerro Porteño at the age of 14. He debuted in the First Division of Paraguay on 15 May 2011 in a 1–0 defeat against General Caballero SC of Zeballos Cue. He scored his first goal on 1 December 2012 against Sportivo Luqueño. His good performances attracted many European teams, such as Spanish clubs Real Madrid B and Valencia Football Club.

In 2013, like his brother Angel, he had more opportunities, since the club decided to give chance to the youth. With the new DT Francisco Arce, Oscar impressed, attracting interest from clubs like Baniyas SC of United Arab Emirates and also being summoned to the Selection Paraguay.

In October 2014, after his good performances in the knockout round of the Copa Sudamericana against Lanús Argentina, in which he scored three goals, he was said to be worth $3 to 6 million. He was targeted by major European clubs, such as Atlético Madrid.

Racing Club edit

On 28 January 2015, Romero was signed by Racing Club for $2.7 million. He debuted on 18 February against Deportivo Tachira in Copa Libertadores. On 13 March 2015, Romero scored his first competitive goal for the club against Club Atlético Colón. On 15 August 2015, Romero scored his second goal against Union de Santa Fe.

Shanghai Shenhua edit

Romero played for Shanghai Shenhua of the Chinese Super League from 2017 to 2019. He won one title with the club; the Chinese FA Cup in 2019.

San Lorenzo edit

In 2019, San Lorenzo signed Romero on a two-year contract. He left the club in 2021.

Boca Juniors edit

Romero joined Boca Juniors in February 2022 on a free transfer, and signed a two-year contract.[2]

Pendikspor edit

On 9 August 2023, he signed with Süper Lig club Pendikspor.[3]

Career statistics edit

Club edit

As of match played 17 January 2024[4]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Cerro Porteño 2011 Paraguayan Primera División 10 1 0 0 10 1
2012 7 1 7 1
2013 35 6 8[b] 0 43 6
2014 38 5 16[c] 4 54 9
Total 90 13 24 4 114 17
Racing Club 2015 Argentine Primera División 24 4 4 0 8[d] 0 36 4
2016 10 4 2 1 10[d] 1 22 6
2016–17 13 1 0 0 13 1
Total 47 9 6 1 18 1 71 11
Alavés (loan) 2016–17 La Liga 13 0 2 0 15 0
2017–18 5 0 0 0 5 0
Total 18 0 2 0 20 0
Shanghai Shenhua 2018 Chinese Super League 17 4 0 0 0 0 17 4
2019 9 0 2 2 11 2
Total 26 4 2 2 0 0 28 6
San Lorenzo 2019–20 Argentine Primera División 21 2 1 2 1[e] 2 23 6
2020–21 8 2 0 0 7[f] 1 15 3
2021 17 1 0 0 17 1
Total 46 5 1 2 7 1 1 2 55 10
Boca Juniors 2022 Argentine Primera División 32 2 4 0 8[d] 0 1[g] 0 45 2
2023 16 2 0 0 3[d] 0 1[h] 0 20 2
Total 48 4 4 0 11 0 2 0 65 4
Pendikspor 2023–24 Süper Lig 12 3 2 1 14 4
Botafogo 2024 Série A 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Career total 287 38 17 6 60 6 3 2 367 52
  1. ^ Includes Copa Argentina, Copa del Rey, Chinese FA Cup, Turkish Cup
  2. ^ Six appearances in Copa Libertadores, two appearances in Copa Sudamericana
  3. ^ Eight appearances in Copa Libertadores, eight appearances and four goals in Copa Sudamericana
  4. ^ a b c d Appearances in Copa Libertadores
  5. ^ Appearance in Copa de la Superliga
  6. ^ Two appearances in Copa Libertadores, five appearances and one goal in Copa Sudamericana
  7. ^ Appearance in Trofeo de Campeones de la Liga Profesional
  8. ^ Appearance in Supercopa Argentina

International edit

Scores and results list Paraguay's goal tally first.[5]
Goal Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 29 May 2014 Kufstein Arena, Kufstein, Austria   Cameroon 1–0 2–1 Friendly
2. 1 September 2016 Estadio Defensores del Chaco, Asunción, Paraguay   Chile 1–0 2–1 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification
3. 12 June 2018 Tivoli-Neu, Innsbruck, Austria   Japan 1–0 2–4 Friendly
4. 10 September 2019 Amman International Stadium, Amman, Jordan   Jordan 1–2 4–2
Correct as of 10 September 2019

Honours edit

Shanghai Shenhua

Boca Juniors

References edit

  1. ^ "The brothers Romero, a new and rare case of twins on a national team". CONMEBOL. 5 September 2013. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
  2. ^ "Boca presentó oficialmente a Óscar Romero: primeras declaraciones y cinco datos sobre la llegada del nuevo refuerzo xeneize". Sportingnews.com (in Spanish). 18 February 2022. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
  3. ^ "Pendikspor, Oscar Romero'yu transfer etti!". cumhuriyet.com.tr (in Turkish). 9 August 2023. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  4. ^ Óscar Romero at Soccerway
  5. ^ "Romero, Óscar". national-football-teams.com. National Football Teams. Retrieved 13 June 2018.

External links edit