César Gelabert

César Gelabert
	Gelabert playing for Toulouse in 2023
Personal information
Full name	César Gelabert Piña
Date of birth	31 October 2000 (age 23)
Place of birth	Palencia, Spain
Height	1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s)	Attacking midfielder
Team information
Current team	Toulouse
Number	11
Youth career
2006–2008	Albufereta
2008–2011	Faro Costa Blanca
2011–2015	Hércules
2015–2019	Real Madrid
Senior career*
Years	Team
2018–2021	Real Madrid B
2021–2023	Mirandés
2023–	Toulouse
International career
2017	Spain U17
	*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 18 December 2023

César Gelabert Piña (born 31 October 2000) is a Spanish footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Ligue 1 club Toulouse.

Club career

Real Madrid

Born in Palencia, Castile and León, Gelabert joined Real Madrid's La Fábrica in 2015, from Hércules CF.^[1] He made his senior debut with the reserves on 25 February 2018 at the age of just 17, coming on as a late substitute in a 3–0 Segunda División B home win against Pontevedra CF.^[2]

Gelabert was definitely promoted to Castilla in June 2018, but suffered a knee injury which kept him sidelined for the most of the season.^[3] After subsequently overcoming another injury, he scored his first senior goal on 3 November 2019, netting Castilla's first in a 2–4 away loss against Sporting de Gijón B.^[4]

After attracting interest from several clubs across Europe during the 2020 summer, Gelabert opted to stay,^[5] but was unable to establish himself as a regular starter during the campaign.

Mirandés

On 5 August 2021, Gelabert signed a two-year deal with Segunda División side CD Mirandés.^[6] He made his professional debut eleven days later, starting in a 0–0 away draw against Málaga CF.^[7]

In January 2022, Gelabert was sidelined for the remainder of the season after suffering another knee injury.^[8] Back to action in August, he scored his first professional goal on 2 November, netting the winner in a 1–0 home success over CD Tenerife.

Toulouse

On 6 June 2023, Ligue 1 side Toulouse FC announced the signing of Gelabert on a four-year contract.^[9]

International career

Gelabert represented Spain at under-17 level in the 2017 UEFA European Under-17 Championship and the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup squads, winning the former competition. Initially called up with the under-19s for the 2019 UEFA European Under-19 Championship, he was forced to miss out the competition due to a broken clavicle.^[10]

Personal life

Gelabert's father Juanmi was also a footballer.^[11] A defender, he played for several seasons in the second tier, aside from a two-year spell at La Liga side Sevilla FC.^[12]

References

^ "Gelabert, objetivo de media Europa" [Gelabert, a goal of half Europe] (in Spanish). Mundo Deportivo. 4 April 2020. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
^ "Real Madrid rising star Gelabert makes Castilla debut at 17". Diario AS. 26 February 2018. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
^ "Gelabert, la joya de la cantera del Madrid, se rompe el cruzado" [Gelabert, the pearl of Madrid's youth setup, tears the ACL] (in Spanish). Diario AS. 23 June 2018. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
^ "Gelabert, la mejor noticia para el Castilla de Raúl" [Gelabert, the best news for Raúl's Castilla] (in Spanish). El Español. 12 November 2019. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
^ "César Gelabert continuará en el Real Madrid" [César Gelabert will continue at Real Madrid] (in Spanish). Vavel. 22 September 2020. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
^ "César Gelabert, rojillo las próximas dos temporadas" [César Gelabert, rojillo the following two seasons] (in Spanish). CD Mirandés. 5 August 2021. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
^ "El Málaga dominó en la primera parte y el Mirandés, en la segunda" [Málaga dominated in the first half and Mirandés, in the second] (in Spanish). Marca. 16 August 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
^ "Gelabert se perderá lo que resta de temporada en el Mirandés" [Gelabert will miss the remainder of the season at Mirandés] (in Spanish). Diario AS. 12 January 2022. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
^ "César Gelabert, première recrue estivale du Toulouse Football Club" [César Gelabert, first summer signing of Toulouse Football Club] (in French). Toulouse FC. 6 June 2023. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
^ "Cesar Gelabert out of the European Under-19 Championship". Marca. 4 July 2019. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
^ "El resurgir de Gelabert, el mirlo que se rompió las dos rodillas" [The resurgence of Gelabert, the blackbird that broke both knees] (in Spanish). Relevo. 9 February 2023. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
^ "Juanmi: Juan Miguel Gelabert Margüello". BDFutbol.com. Retrieved 19 May 2023.