Adrián "Adri" Embarba Blázquez (Spanish pronunciation: [aˈðɾjan ˈaðɾjemˈbaɾβa ˈβlaθkeθ];[a] born 7 May 1992) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a right winger for La Liga club Rayo Vallecano, on loan from UD Almería.

Adri Embarba
Embarba with Espanyol in 2020
Personal information
Full name Adrián Embarba Blázquez[1]
Date of birth (1992-05-07) 7 May 1992 (age 32)[1]
Place of birth Madrid, Spain
Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)[1]
Position(s) Winger
Team information
Current team
Rayo Vallecano
(on loan from Almería)
Youth career
2004–2006 Real Madrid
2006–2009 Alcalá
2009–2010 Leganés
2010–2011 Getafe
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011–2012 Marchamalo 37 (6)
2012–2013 Carabanchel 37 (9)
2013–2014 Rayo Vallecano B 7 (4)
2013–2020 Rayo Vallecano 186 (32)
2020–2022 Espanyol 89 (11)
2022– Almería 65 (7)
2024–Rayo Vallecano (loan) 0 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 3 June 2024

Career

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Early career

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Born in Madrid, Embarba finished his development with local Getafe CF after youth spells with neighbouring Real Madrid, RSD Alcalá and CD Leganés. He made his senior debut in the 2011–12 season with CD Marchamalo in Castile-La Mancha,[2] scoring six goals in the Tercera División.

Embarba signed with RCD Carabanchel in June 2012.[3]

Rayo Vallecano

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Embarba with Rayo Vallecano in 2019

In July 2013, Embarba joined Rayo Vallecano, being assigned to the reserves also in the fourth tier.[4] He made his first-team – and La Liga – debut on 30 August, coming off the bench for injured Iago Falque and playing 65 minutes in a 2–1 home defeat against Levante UD.[5]

On 12 June 2014, Embarba signed a new three-year deal with Rayo, being definitely promoted to the main squad.[6] He scored his first professional goal on 14 March of the following year, the last in the 3–1 win over Granada CF also at the Campo de Fútbol de Vallecas.[7]

Embarba contributed two goals in 28 appearances during the 2015–16 campaign, as the club suffered relegation. On 8 October 2017, he scored a brace in a 4–1 Segunda División home rout of Real Valladolid.[8]

On 19 December 2017, after establishing himself as a regular starter, Embarba renewed his contract until 2021.[9] He achieved promotion to the top flight in 2017–18, scoring eight times and adding 14 assists in the process.[10]

Espanyol

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Embarba transferred to RCD Espanyol on 23 January 2020, after his €10 million release clause was paid.[11] After being relegated in his first season, he helped his side to return to the main division in the second by scoring a career-best nine goals.[12][13]

Embarba featured much less in 2021–22 (also failing to find the net), mainly due to a run-in with manager Vicente Moreno early into the campaign.[13]

Almería

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On 24 August 2022, Embarba moved to UD Almería, newly-promoted to the top tier.[14] He scored four goals and provided three assists in his debut campaign, with his team managing to stay afloat.[15]

On 26 July 2024, after suffering relegation, Embarba returned to Rayo after 11 years, agreeing to a one-year loan deal.[16]

Personal life

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Embarba's cousin, Isaac, is also a footballer. A midfielder, he also played for Rayo.[17]

Honours

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Rayo Vallecano

Espanyol

Notes

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  1. ^ In isolation, Blázquez is pronounced [ˈblaθkeθ].

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Embarba". Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 5 September 2022.
  2. ^ Martín, Marga (9 July 2011). "El Marchamalo incorpora a Adrián Embarba, ex del Getafe" [Marchamalo add Adrián Embarba, formerly of Getafe] (in Spanish). Nueva Alcarria. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
  3. ^ "Nuevas incorporaciones en el primer equipo" [New additions to first team] (in Spanish). CD Carabanchel. 22 June 2012. Archived from the original on 10 August 2014. Retrieved 4 August 2014.
  4. ^ "Miki Ruiz, Adri Barba y Parla, últimos refuerzos del Rayo Vallecano B" [Miki Ruiz, Adri Barba and Parla, last signings of Rayo Vallecano B] (in Spanish). Vallecas Digital. 11 July 2013. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 8 February 2014.
  5. ^ "Ivanschitz steals win for Levante". ESPN FC. 30 August 2013. Archived from the original on 31 December 2013. Retrieved 8 February 2014.
  6. ^ "Embarba renueva por tres temporadas y jugará en el primer equipo" [Embarba renews for three seasons and will play in the first team] (in Spanish). Pasión por el Rayo. 12 June 2014. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
  7. ^ Burgos, Pablo (14 March 2015). "Un Bueno histórico condena al Granada" [A historical Bueno condemns Granada]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 29 March 2015.
  8. ^ "4–1. El Rayo castiga con dureza al Valladolid" [4–1. Rayo punish Valladolid hard]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 8 October 2017. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  9. ^ Martín, Maite (19 December 2017). "Embarba renueva hasta 2021" [Embarba renews until 2021]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 8 January 2018.
  10. ^ "El Rayo Vallecano celebra su regreso a LaLiga Santander" [Rayo Vallecano celebrate return to LaLiga Santander] (in Spanish). La Liga. 27 May 2018. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  11. ^ "Adrián Embarba, tercer refuerzo invernal" [Adrián Embarba, third winter addition] (in Spanish). RCD Espanyol. 23 January 2020. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
  12. ^ a b "El Espanyol cae como campeón ante un Alcorcón salvado" [Espanyol fall as champions against saved Alcorcón]. Sport (in Spanish). 30 May 2021. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  13. ^ a b Martínez, Alberto (24 August 2022). "Adrián Embarba y las urgencias del Espanyol" [Adrián Embarba and Espanyol's urgencies]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 5 September 2022.
  14. ^ "Adrián Embarba is UD Almería's newest recruit". UD Almería. 24 August 2022. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
  15. ^ Miralles, Carlos (26 July 2024). "Embarba dice adiós al Almería" [Embarba says goodbye to Almería]. La Voz de Almería (in Spanish). Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  16. ^ "Adrián Embarba joins Rayo Vallecano on season-long deal". UD Almería. 26 July 2024. Retrieved 26 July 2024.
  17. ^ Fernández, Menchu (29 July 2014). "Isi y Adrián Embarba son los primos del Rayo Vallecano" [Isi and Adrián Embarba are Rayo Vallecano's cousins]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 28 August 2014.
  18. ^ Ortega Marchamalo, Carlos (11 June 2018). "Resumen de la temporada 2017/2018: Rayo Vallecano, delanteros, artillería pesada" [2017/2018 season summary: Rayo Vallecano, forwards, heavy artillery] (in Spanish). Vavel. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
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