Last update 22 October, 2024 by Alberto Llopis
Fernando Cavenaghi, known as the “Torito”, He is remembered as one of the most talented forwards that Argentine football produced in recent decades.. After his success in clubs such as River Plate and Spartak Moscow, decided to try his luck in the Spanish LaLiga, arriving at Villarreal CF in the year 2012. However, His time at the Spanish club was brief and he did not meet the expectations that many had of him..
Arrival at Villarreal CF: The challenge of returning to the First Division
'The Little Bull’ He arrived at Villarreal in the summer market 2012, after a period in River Plate which included the historic season in which the millionaire club played in the second division of Argentine football. The B as they know it in Argentina.
The forward, who had been one of the protagonists of the rise, He was looking to relaunch his career in Europe after his first stage on the old continent, where he played for Spartak Moscow and the Girondins of Burdeos.
He Villarreal CF, a club that at that time was going through a difficult situation in the Spanish Second Division, He signed him with the hope that his experience and scoring instinct would be key to returning the team to the elite of Spanish football..
The path from Cavenaghi to Villarreal: fleeting and dull
Despite the high expectations placed on his signing, the pass of 'El Torito’ for him yellow submarine It was less shocking than many expected.. During the season 2012-13, The Argentine striker barely played 19 parties and scored alone 4 goals. He left the club in January 2013, in the middle of the winter market, just 6 months after arriving.
Although his technical quality and scoring ability were indisputable, Adapting to a league as competitive as the second Spanish league and the demands of Villarreal in its fight to return to the First Division made its performance difficult..
Especially after the change of Julio Velázquez that left his place for a Marcelino García Toral who reached his first stage as coach of Villarreal. Yes for Velázquez, Cavenaghi was fixed in his schemes, For Marcelino it became the last option in attack.
He Villarreal CF finally achieved promotion to the First Division League at the end of the season, but the contribution of 'El Torito’ was not as significant as expected. The Argentine could not establish himself as a starter in the team and was relegated to a secondary role in the offense..
He left at the winter market 2013
With the arrival of January 2013, Villarreal decided to do without the Argentine striker who had not met expectations and put an end to his brief adventure in Spain to embark on new challenges. The striker left the club with the satisfaction of having contributed with some goals that gave points in the promotion to the First Division in the first part of the season. Although his time in the team was far from initial expectations.
After his departure from Villarreal, continued his career in Pachuca of Mexico and later returned to live a second stage in River Plate, where he established himself as one of the historical idols of the millionaire club where he is one of its most legendary scorers.