Juan Cruz (footballer, born 2000)
Spanish footballer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Juan Cruz Díaz Espósito[a] (born 25 April 2000), known as Juan Cruz, is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a winger for Málaga CF on loan from CD Leganés.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Juan Cruz Díaz Espósito | ||
| Date of birth | 25 April 2000 | ||
| Place of birth | Quilmes, Argentina | ||
| Height | 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||
| Position | Winger | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team |
Málaga (on loan from Leganés) | ||
| Number | 19 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2010–2016 | Málaga | ||
| 2016–2017 | San Félix | ||
| 2017–2018 | Málaga | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2017–2021 | Málaga B | 64 | (11) |
| 2018–2021 | Málaga | 4 | (0) |
| 2021–2023 | Betis B | 38 | (7) |
| 2022–2024 | Betis | 11 | (1) |
| 2024 | → Leganés (loan) | 16 | (4) |
| 2024– | Leganés | 73 | (8) |
| 2026– | → Málaga (loan) | 0 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2018 | Spain U18 | 2 | (0) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 9 June 2026 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 30 June 2018 | |||
Club career
Born in Quilmes, Argentina, Cruz grew up in Rincón de la Victoria, Málaga, Andalusia,[1] and joined Málaga CF's youth setup in 2010.[2] He made his senior debut with the reserves on 19 November 2017, coming on as a second-half substitute for Nacho Abeledo in a 5–1 Tercera División home routing of Martos CD.[3]
Cruz made his first team – and La Liga – debut on 19 May 2018, replacing Mehdi Lacen in a 0–1 home loss against Getafe CF.[4] On 1 July 2021, he signed a two-year contract with Real Betis after his deal with Málaga expired; he was assigned to the B-team.[5]
On 21 October 2022, five days after his first team debut for the Verdiblancos, Cruz signed a new contract with the club until 2025.[6] He scored his first professional goal nine days later, netting the opener in a 2–0 away win over Real Sociedad.[7]
Definitely promoted to the first team of Betis for the 2023–24 season, Cruz only featured rarely before moving to Segunda División side CD Leganés on loan on 1 February 2024.[8] After helping in their promotion to the top tier as champions, he signed a permanent four-year contract with the club on 12 June.[9]
On 19 July 2026, Cruz returned to his first club Málaga, now back to the top tier, on a one-year loan deal.[10]
Honours
Notes
- In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Díaz and the second or maternal family name is Espósito.