Antonio Sanabria - Skills and Highlight - 2024
Antonio Sanabria - Skills and Highlight - 2024
Arnaldo Antonio Sanabria Ayala, widely known as Antonio Sanabria, is a Paraguayan professional footballer born on March 4, 1996, in San Lorenzo. His early footballing journey began in futsal before transitioning to traditional football at Cerro Porteño's youth academy. At a young age, he moved to Spain, joining a local club before being recruited by the prestigious FC Barcelona's youth academy, La Masia, in 2009.
Sanabria's time at Barcelona's youth setup was highly anticipated. He progressed through the ranks, even training with the first team under manager Tito Vilanova. In 2013, he was promoted to FC Barcelona B, where he made his professional debut in Segunda División and scored his first professional goal. However, he ultimately chose to leave Barcelona in early 2014, seeking more direct first-team opportunities.
His senior career then saw him move to Italy, joining Sassuolo in Serie A, though his stay was brief before officially moving to AS Roma in July 2014. While at Roma, he also featured for their Primavera (U19) squad. Seeking more consistent playing time, Sanabria returned to Spain on loan to Sporting Gijón in La Liga for the 2015-2016 season, where he impressed by scoring 11 goals in 30 appearances, including a hat-trick.
This successful loan spell led to a permanent transfer to Real Betis in July 2016. He spent several seasons with Betis, showcasing his predatory instincts as a forward and scoring crucial goals, including a memorable winner against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu in 2017. During his time at Betis, he also had a loan spell back in Serie A with Genoa.
In January 2021, Sanabria made a permanent return to Italian football, signing a four-year contract with Torino. He quickly made an impact, scoring on his debut for the club. Since then, he has been a consistent presence in Torino's attack, contributing goals and assists in Serie A. His contract with Torino was extended until June 2026 in January 2024.
Sanabria's playing style is characterized by his technical ability, movement off the ball, and finishing prowess. He primarily operates as a centre-forward or second striker, utilizing his intelligent runs and composure in front of goal. While not always the most prolific, he often scores important goals and provides a focal point for his team's attack.
On the international stage, Antonio Sanabria has proudly represented Paraguay. He has played for various youth national teams, including U17 and U20, where he also demonstrated his scoring ability. He made his senior international debut for Paraguay in August 2013 and has since earned numerous caps, contributing goals for his country in World Cup qualifiers and other international fixtures.
As of the current season (2024/2025), Sanabria has continued to be a regular for Torino, appearing in the majority of their Serie A matches and contributing with goals and assists. His journey through some of Europe's top leagues, starting from one of the most esteemed academies in the world, highlights his enduring talent and adaptability as a professional footballer.