Roberto Rosales

Roberto José Rosales Altuve (born 20 November 1988) is a Venezuelan professional footballer who plays for Brazilian club Sport Recife and the Venezuela national team.

Mainly a right back, he can also play as a right midfielder.

Born in Caracas, Rosales played for Pedagogico Caracas and Deportivo Gulima before moving to hometown's Caracas, where he made his senior debuts, appearing in two matches before signing a two-year deal with Gent on 30 May 2007 following a successful trial.

Rosales was linked with a move to Anderlecht.

He made his debut for the latter on 14 July 2007, in a 4–0 win at Cliftonville, for that year's UEFA Intertoto Cup.

It wasn't until on 16 September 2007 when he made his league debut for the club, coming on as a second-half substitute, in a 1–1 draw against Standard Liège.

Despite being sent-off after a second bookable offence, in a 2–1 win over Charleroi on 3 May 2008, Rosales finished his first season, making twenty appearances in all competitions, including playing in the final of the Belgian Cup, making a start, in a 3–2 loss against Anderlecht.

In the 2008–09 season, Rosales established himself in the starting eleven and started the season well when he, along with the defense, helped the club keep a clean sheet, in a 5–0 win over Mons in the opening game of the season.

As he was given a first-team opportunity, it was announced on 24 October 2008, Rosales signed a contract with the club, keeping him until 2011.

Three weeks later, on 14 November 2008, he scored his first goal of the season, in a 3–2 loss against Westerlo.

It wasn't until on 1 March 2009 when he scored his second goal of the season, in a 1–0 win over Lokeren.

However, Rosales suffered a knee injury that kept him out of the rest of the season.

Despite this, he finished his second season, making twenty-eight appearances and scoring two times in all competitions.

In the 2009–10 season, Rosales continued to rehabilitate from his injury and then made his first appearance of the season, in a 4–1 win over Lokeren on 22 August 2009.

Having regained his first team place since returning from injury, Rosales then scored his first goal of the season, in a 2–1 win over Sint-Truiden on 24 October 2009.

Rosales, again, scored two goals in two matches between 28 November 2009 and 4 December 2009 against Cercle Brugge and KV Mechelen respectively.

As the 2009–10 season progressed, Rosales helped the club reach the final of the Belgium Cup after provided four assists in four matches in both legs against Club Brugge and Mechelen.

In the final against Cercle Brugge, Rosales started in the final and helped them win 3–0.

After playing in midfielder as some point during the season following an absent of numbers of midfielders, Rosales finished the season, making thirty-nine appearances and scoring three times in all competitions.

During his three years spell, Rosales appeared regularly for Gent and went on to make eighty-two appearances and scoring five times in all competitions.

Rosales joined Eredivisie side Twente in a three-year deal on 30 July 2010.

Upon joining club, Rosales became a direct replacement for Ronnie Stam, who left for Premier League side Wigan Athletic and was presented to the media a few days later, where he was given a number fifteen shirt.

However, his debut was soon delayed, due to work permit, and was granted work permit to play for the club on 19 August 2010.

After making his debut against Vitesse, where he made 9 minutes on 21 August 2010, Rosales made his first start on 29 August 2010, and played the full 90 minutes of a 4–0 home routing over Utrecht.

Rosales scored his first goal for the club on 11 September 2010, in a 2–1 win over VVV-Venlo.

On 7 December 2010, Rosales scored a goal in a 3–3 home draw against Tottenham Hotspur, for the season's UEFA Champions League, and became the first Venezuelan to do so.

He continued to appear regularly for the Tukkers and despite being suspended, including a red card against Roda JC on 10 April 2011.

Though he was on the bench that saw Twente beat Ajax 3–2 in the KNVB Cup final, Rosales finished his first season, making forty-five appearances and scoring two times in all competitions.

Ahead of the 2011–12 season, Rosales' performance saw him being linked to the likes of Real Madrid.

Despite this, Rosales remained at the club, although he began competing with Tim Cornelisse over the right-back position and started the season well when he provided a hat-trick assists, in a 5–2 win over ADO Den Haag on 18 September 2011.

Rosales then set up a goal for Marc Janko to score the winning goal, in a 1–0 against Fulham in a UEFA Europa League on 1 December 2011.

After a serving a one match suspension, due to being booked for the fifth time this season, he scored on his return from suspension on 21 March 2012, in a 2–1 win over De Graafschap.

Following his return, Rosales regained his first team place for the remainder of the season, as he made forty-one appearances and scoring once in all competitions.

In the 2012–13 season, Rosales' transfer speculation continued when European clubs were keen on signing him.

Despite this, Rosales stayed at the club and started his season well when he set up one of the goals, in a 4–1 win over Groningen in the opening game of the season and continued to be in the first team regular.

Despite being suspended twice after being booked a multiple of times, as well as, his own injury concerns, Rosales went on to make forty-four appearances in all competitions.

In the 2013–14 season, Rosales helped the club with two clean sheets to the start of the season against RKC Waalwijk and Utrecht despite the club's slow start.

Unfortunately, in a match against Heerenveen, in the second round of the KNVB Cup, he received a red card after a second bookable offence, in a 3–0 loss, eliminating from the tournament.

Rosales then scored his first goal of the season, in a 3–2 loss against ADO Den Haag on 26 October 2013.

His 100th league appearance for the club then came on 10 November 2013, in a 1–1 draw against PEC Zwolle.