Full name Juan Guillermo Cuadrado louis
Date of birth 26 May 1988 (age 25)
Place of birth Necoclí, Colombia
Height 1.76 m (5 ft 9 1⁄2 in)
Weight 66 kg
Playing position Winger
Club information
Current club Fiorentina
Number 11
Juan Guillermo Cuadrado Bello (born 26 May 1988) is a Colombian footballer who currently plays for Fiorentina in the Serie A.
He generally plays as a winger, but can also play as a wing-back and as a full-back. His speed, pace and dribbling ability has allowed him to contribute greatly for both club and nation while earning the reputation of one of Europe's most lethal players.
Cuadrado is also known for dancing in various styles when celebrating a goal.
Club career
Early career / Independiente Medellin
Born in Necoclí, Cuadrado began his club career in Atlético Uraba. At Uraba, Cuadrado's preferred playing position was as a forward. However, due to the recommendation of club founder, Nelson Gallego, Cuadrado commenced to take on a midfielder role, preferably as a winger. Cuadrado's confidence and effectivity would later grant him ability to also act as a full-back. He later had a brief spell with no appearances at second division club, Rionegro, where he under the command of coach Víctor González Scott, but his potential was recognized by Juan José Peláez, who later proposed the idea of Cuadrado representing the colours of Independiente Medellin. He was eventually signed by Medellin in 2008, handing him the opportunity to play in the first division of Colombia. That same year, Cuadrado made his professional debut against Boyaca Chico, match where he would also score his first goal. Cuadrado lasted until 2009 at Medellin before making a leap into European football, most specifically the Italian Serie A.
Udinese
On 2 July 2009, Cuadrado signed for Italian Serie A side Udinese Calcio on a five-year deal.[4] Nonetheless, the total amount of the transfer fee is unknown. On 1 November 2009, he played his first match for Udinese in a 1–1 draw with Chievo as a right wingback. In this match his countryman Cristián Zapata moved to a central defender and Dušan Basta who had been the primary right back was rested. Due to the fact that Cuadrado wasn't handed many minutes on the pitch, it was confirmed that he would be sent on loan to fellow Serie A team U.S. Lecce.
Loan to Lecce
On 3 August 2011, it was officially confirmed that Cuadrado would join Lecce for the 2011–12 season. He scored his first goal for the club against A.C. Cesena, the sole goal in 1-0 victory. Even though Cuadrado gave impressive performances, even being awarded as the player with most dribbling the whole season, Lecce finished 18th, thus being relegated from the Serie A. He later returned to Udinese to avoid playing in the second-tier of Italy.
Fiorentina
On 23 July 2012, Cuadrado completed a move to Serie A side Fiorentina on loan with an option to buy. On 4 November 2012 he scored his first goal for the Florence club in a 4–1 victory at home to Cagliari. He finished the season with 5 goals and 6 assists, an integral part of a side that finished 4th in Serie A. He made a permanent move to Fiorentina in the summer of 2013.
On 11 February 2014, Cuadrado scored Fiorentina's second goal of their 2-0 Coppa Italia semi-final second leg victory over his former club, Udinese, securing the Viola a 3-2 aggregate victory and a spot in the final.
International career
After being transferred to Udinese, Cuadrado received a spot in the Colombian starting XI in a game against Venezuela on 3 September 2010, he was the man of the match and scored the opening goal and his first with the national side. Colombia won 2–0 playing well.
Cuadrado was called up by José Pekerman, for a friendly against Mexico on 29 February 2012 taking place in Miami Gardens, Florida. He started the match and scored the second goal of Colombia who won the game 2–0. He scored after receiving a pass from Pablo Armero into an empty goal.
Style of play
Cuadrado is a very unique midfielder. At times plays both between an attacking and defending role given by the situation of the game. His dribbling and ball control makes him a 'tricky' player when facing defenders and is able to read the moves of his opponent predicting reactions flawlessly. Cuadrado's reactions are strongly supported by his speed even to the point where he can out run/pace most players for the ball or when running with it. This has also been supported by his large impressive stamina despite being at his mid 20s where the peak of talents were revealed. In 2013, it was reported that Cuadrado nearly doubled the dribbling rate of Cristiano Ronaldo per league game.
Cuadrado at times can play any position on the right side making him quite a versatile player. Able to play as a defender if needed, a midfield playmaker, or even scoring goals as a winger, Cuadrado adapts a style of Total Football for both club and nation.
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