 Formica withBlackburn Rovers in 2011 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Mauro Abel Formica[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1988-04-04)4 April 1988 (age 37)[2] | ||
| Place of birth | Rosario, Argentina | ||
| Height | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) | ||
| Position | Attacking midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Newell's Old Boys | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2006–2011 | Newell's Old Boys | 76 | (17) |
| 2011–2013 | Blackburn Rovers | 49 | (5) |
| 2013 | →Palermo (loan) | 8 | (1) |
| 2013–2017 | Cruz Azul | 55 | (8) |
| 2015–2017 | →Newell's Old Boys (loan) | 44 | (7) |
| 2017–2018 | UNAM | 21 | (0) |
| 2018–2021 | Newell's Old Boys | 53 | (6) |
| 2021–2022 | Colón | 18 | (0) |
| 2023 | Defensores de Belgrano | 11 | (0) |
| Total | 335 | (44) | |
| International career | |||
| 2005–2006 | Argentina U17 | 4 | (2) |
| 2011 | Argentina | 1 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Mauro Abel Formica (born 4 April 1988) is an Argentine former professionalfootballer who played as anattacking midfielder. He is nicknamedEl Gato (The Cat).
Having signed a professional contract, Formica made his professional debut forNewell's Old Boys on 29 September 2006 at the age of 18, in a match againstClub Atlético Colón, as the teams drew 1–1. After two-years since professional at Newell's Old Boys, Formica soon established himself in the first team in2008–09 and in Torneo Apertura on 13 December 2008, Formica scored his first goal in a 3–0 win overRacing Club. Soon after, on the opening game of the season, Formica scored his first goal (and scored another) and set up a goal forLeandro Armani in a 3–0 win overGimnasia. Soon in mid-May, Formica scored three goals in three consecutive games, againstRiver Plate,Arsenal de Sarandí andRosario Central. After the end of the season, Formica made sixteen appearances (having missed four appearances due to slight injury) and scoring seven.
The following season, Formica continued to retain his first team and in Torneo Inicial, Formica scored four goals in nineteen appearances. Shortly after the end of Torneo Inicial, Formica played his first game ofCopa Libertadores in a 0–0 draw againstEmelec in the first leg but the club was eliminated in the second leg, with a 2–1 score for Emelec. On the final game of the season of Torneo Final, Formica scored twice and set up a goal forLucas Bernardi in a 6–1 win over Gimnasia, the team which he scored his first goal.
His good performance attracted attention from Europe with the likes ofAjax,AS Monaco,[3]Galatasaray andArsenal. Russian sideRubin Kazan made a bid for Formica but the offer was rejected. Soon after rival River Plate tried to sign him but the offer was also rejected[citation needed].
Though rebuffing offers from Europe, Formica playing time was reduced under new managerRoberto Sensini. Though fallen out, Formica continued his form in Copa Sudamericana, scoring three goals, against Estudiantes and a brace against Club San Jose.
After leaving Newell's Old Boys, Formica played a total of 84 games scoring 22 goals for the club over 5 years. While at Newell's Old Boys, Formica is known for his technique, dribbling and speed. He is also known for his great shot from half-distance.
On the last day of the transfer window, Formica signed forBlackburn Rovers – on a four-year deal – reported to be worth around £4 million.[4] Then-managerSteve Kean described Formica as a youngGabriel Batistuta, believing he's best prospects in Argentine football.[5] However, Formica did not break into the squad, appearing instead for Blackburn reserves, often due to a lack of match fitness.
Kean tipped Formica as a future star going into his second season with Rovers,[6] and on 13 August 2011, Formica scored on hisPremier League debut for Rovers againstWolverhampton Wanderers in a 2–1 defeat atEwood Park.[7] On 20 August 2011, he came on forJason Roberts on 75 minutes in a 3–1 defeat againstAston Villa atVilla Park. Four days later, Formica started and played the full 90 minutes in a 3–1 victory overSheffield Wednesday at Ewood Park in the second round of the League Cup. On 27 August 2011, Formica won two penalties in a home league game againstEverton. He missed one and so didJunior Hoilett, the match ended with Everton winning 1–0. In the January transfer window, Formica was expected to leave Blackburn, having been named one of Blackburn's player to leave the club, reportedly for personal reasons.[8] Several days later, Formica revealed the club rejected a move back to his former club, with Blackburn want to sell for €5million.[9] In mid-January, Formica was also linked with a move to Greek sideOlympiacos, where he would join his brother, playing for a different Greek club.[10] His brother told Sport24 that Mauro want to leave Blackburn, insisting the talk is ongoing[11] However, the move to Greece fell through, as the club were unable to meet Blackburn's asking price.[12] Later in the season, Formica would score three more goals againstTottenham Hotspur,Fulham andNorwich City. However, at the end of the season, Blackburn were relegated to the Championship.
Formica was in and out of the first team, due to change of management. On 17 November 2012, Formica scored his first goal of the season in a 4–1 win overPeterborough United and several weeks on, Formica made his last appearance in a 4–1 loss againstCardiff City. Formica hadn't played since throughout December and January, due to injury on the knee.[13]
On 23 January 2013,Serie A strugglersPalermo announced on their website to have signed Formica on loan until the end of the season, with an option to make the move permanent during the period of the loan spell.[14] He made his debut four days later, as a second-half substitute forJosip Iličić in a 1–1 draw atCagliari. In the next match in a 2–1 loss againstAtalanta, Formica provided assist forNélson Marcos from a cross, with Nélson scoring from a backheel.
On 13 August 2013, Cruz Azul announced on their website that they had signed Mauro Formica.
On 30 January 2023, Formica was announced as a new reinforcement for Club Atlético Defensores de Belgrano.[15]
After playing againstSan Telmo, with a 2–0 victory for the locals, on 18 June 2023, he announced his final retirement from professional soccer, after almost 18 years in the discipline.[16]
Formica played his first cap, coming on forAriel Cabral, in a 2–1 loss against Poland on 5 June 2011.
Mauro is the younger brother of fellow professional playerLautaro Formica.[17]
| Club | Season | League | National cup | League cup | Continental[a] | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Newell's Old Boys | 2007–08 | 4 | 0 | – | – | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | ||
| 2008–09 | 19 | 7 | – | – | 0 | 0 | 19 | 7 | |||
| 2009–10 | 36 | 8 | – | – | 2 | 0 | 38 | 8 | |||
| 2010–11 | 17 | 2 | – | – | 6 | 3 | 23 | 5 | |||
| 2015 | 3 | 0 | – | – | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |||
| 2016 | 14 | 0 | 2 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | 16 | 0 | ||
| 2016–17 | 9 | 4 | – | – | 0 | 0 | 9 | 4 | |||
| Total | 102 | 21 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 112 | 24 | |
| Blackburn Rovers | 2011–12 | 34 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | – | 39 | 4 | |
| 2012–13 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | – | 16 | 1 | ||
| Total | 49 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 55 | 5 | |
| Palermo | 2012–13 | 8 | 1 | – | – | – | 8 | 1 | |||
| Cruz Azul | 2013–14 | 29 | 7 | – | – | 9 | 1 | 38 | 8 | ||
| 2014–15 | 29 | 1 | – | – | 7 | 1 | 36 | 2 | |||
| Total | 58 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 2 | 74 | 10 | |
| Career total | 219 | 35 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 24 | 5 | 251 | 40 | |
Cruz Azul
