Agustín Módica

Agustín Módica
Personal information
Full name Agustín Ignacio Módica
Date of birth (2003-01-12) 12 January 2003 (age 21)
Place of birth Pietra Ligure, Italy
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 Rosario Central
Number 44
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2023– Rosario Central 12 (3)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 14:35, 20 July 2024 (UTC)

Agustín Ignacio Módica (born 12 January 2003)[1] is an Italian footballer who plays as a forward for Argentine Primera División club Rosario Central. Born in Italy, he is a dual citizen with Argentina.[2]

Early and personal life

Módica's father Pablo was born and raised in Argentina and is of Italian descent.[2] Pablo played football for Central Córdoba, Argentino de Rosario and lower-league Italian clubs. The younger Módica was born in Pietra Ligure in the Province of Savona, when his father played for Albenga 1928 [it]. The family returned to Argentina when Módica was two years old.[1][3]

Career

Módica spent his youth career in the city of Rosario with Amistad y Progreso, Newell's Old Boys, Río Negro, Central Córdoba (30 goals) and Central Córdoba. He was signed to Rosario Central in 2021. In 2022, he took part in the Torneo Gobernador Luciano Molinas [es], a tournament for reserve teams of clubs in Rosario. He scored 19 goals in the first 13 games, including both on 26 June in a 2–0 win away to Newell's in the Rosario derby.[1] In his next game, he was sent off in a 2–1 loss at home to Newell's; further incidents in the game caused the entire league season to be abandoned.[3]

On 19 September 2023, Módica made his professional debut in the Argentine Primera División as a 69th-minute substitute for Tobías Cervera, in a 1–1 home draw against Independiente. The following 14 March he made his first start in the Copa Argentina, a penalty shootout win in the last 64 at home to Douglas Haig.[3] On 23 April he made his continental debut in the group stage of the Copa Libertadores, scoring the equaliser in a 1–1 draw at Caracas ten minutes after replacing Cervera again.[4]

Making a first league start on 10 May 2024, Módica took six minutes to score the opening goal of a 3–2 loss at Argentinos Juniors.[5] Five days later, he netted twice in a 4–1 continental win over Caracas at the Estadio Gigante de Arroyito.[6] On 19 July, in the first domestic game after the 2024 Copa América break, he scored another two goals in a 4–2 home win over Sarmiento.[7]

References

  1. ^ a b c Iturrez, Juan (1 July 2022). "Módica gritó así sus goles en el clásico" [Módica scored his goals like this in the Clásico]. La Capital (in Spanish). Retrieved 17 May 2024.
  2. ^ a b Paván, Pablo. "Entrevistas a Pablo y Agustín Módica. Padre e hijo con sangre italiana…" [Interviews with Pablo and Agustín Módica. Father and son with Italian blood...] (in Spanish). ESPN.
  3. ^ a b c "Quién es Agustín Ignacio Módica, el último grito de Central" [Who is Agustín Ignacio Módica, scorer of Central's last goal]. La Capital (in Spanish). 28 April 2024. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
  4. ^ "Rosario Central empató 1 a 1 con Caracas con un gol de Módica" [Rosario Central drew 1–1 with Caracas with a goal from Módica] (in Spanish). Radiofonica. 23 April 2024. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
  5. ^ Evangeliste, Elbio (11 May 2024). "Central dio un paso adelante en el juego, con Agustín Módica a la cabeza" [Central took a step forward in the game, with Agustín Módica leading]. La Capital (in Spanish). Retrieved 17 May 2024.
  6. ^ "Rosario Central goleó a Caracas y se ilusiona con la clasificación en la Copa Libertadores" [Rosario Central thrashed Caracas and can be excited about Copa Libertadores qualification]. Diario Río Negro (in Spanish). 16 May 2024. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
  7. ^ "Con Módica como figura, Central goleó a Sarmiento en el Gigante y cuidó a los titulares" [With Módica as the leader, Central thrashed Sarmiento in the Gigante and looked after the starters] (in Spanish). Rosario 3. 19 July 2024. Retrieved 20 July 2024.