Esteban Granero Spanish footballer, midfielder for Real Madrid Date of Birth: 02.07.1987 Country: Spain

Biography of Esteban Granero

Esteban Granero is a Spanish football player who currently plays as a midfielder for Real Madrid. He is known for his versatility and technical skills, excelling in both passing and attacking. Granero joined the Real Madrid youth division at the age of eight, where his talent was quickly recognized. As a member of the under-10 national team, he scored an impressive 83 goals in a single season.

In 1999, Granero led the under-12 national team to victory in the International Football-7 championship held in Barcelona. His team defeated the local team with a score of 1-0, and Granero was named the tournament's Best Player. Alongside his teammates Juan Mata and Alberto Bueno, Granero also won the Copa de Campeones Juvenil de Fútbol, the official youth football championship in Spain, under the Royal Spanish Football Federation.

At the age of 17, Granero earned a place in Real Madrid's subsidiary team, Real Madrid Castilla, where he quickly gained respect for his unique abilities. In the 2005-2006 season, he was named the Most Valuable Player by the magazine "Don Balón." Granero made his debut for Real Madrid Castilla and scored a goal in his first match. He gradually climbed the ranks of the team and secured a spot in the starting lineup.

However, Granero was unable to transfer to the first team of Real Madrid and had to settle for playing with Getafe. Although his initial contract was for one year with the expectation of returning to Real Madrid, Getafe decided to keep Granero. On July 13, 2008, he signed a permanent contract with the club, allowing Real Madrid to repurchase him if desired. Real Madrid exercised this option on July 21, 2009, reportedly paying €4 million for his transfer.

In his first season with Real Madrid, Granero scored three goals before the start of the season and another goal in his first official match. However, his playing time became more inconsistent with the arrival of new players, such as Sami Khedira and Mesut Özil, who played in his position. Despite being relegated to a substitute role, Granero's performance on the field remained high. On January 16, 2011, he came off the bench to score a goal against UD Almería.

Granero also represented Spain on the international stage. He played a significant role in the UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship in 2006. He made his debut for the under-21 national team on February 6, 2007, in a friendly match against England. Granero returned to the international scene in 2009, playing in the UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship.