Diego Pituca

Diego Pituca

Diego Pituca playing for Santos in 2018
Personal information
Full name	Diego Cristiano Evaristo
Date of birth	(1992-08-01) 1 August 1992 (age 32)
Place of birth	Mogi Guaçu, Brazil
Height	1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) [1]
Position(s)	Defensive midfielder
Team information
Current team	Santos
Number	21
Youth career
2002–2009	Guaçuano
2009–2010	Itapirense
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2011	Mineiros	0	(0)
2011	Brasilis	15	(0)
2012–2013	Guaçuano	39	(6)
2013–2015	Matonense	65	(6)
2014	→ União São João (loan)	13	(3)
2015	→ Botafogo-SP (loan)	12	(0)
2016–2017	Botafogo-SP	48	(3)
2017–2021	Santos	123	(6)
2021–2023	Kashima Antlers	85	(6)
2024–	Santos	50	(5)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16:08, 18 November 2024 (UTC)

Diego Cristiano Evaristo (born 1 August 1992), known as Diego Pituca or simply Pituca, is a Brazilian footballer who plays for Santos. Mainly a defensive midfielder, he can also play as a left back.

Club career

Early career

Pituca was born in Mogi Guaçu, São Paulo, and mainly represented Guaçuano and Itapirense as a youth. In 2011 he joined Mineiros, but failed to appear for the side during his spell. ^{[2] [3]}

In 2011 Pituca returned to his native state, after agreeing to a contract with Brasilis. ^[3] He made his debut for the club on 7 May of that year by starting in a 1–0 Campeonato Paulista Segunda Divisão away loss against his first club Guaçuano, ^[4] and played his first campaign as a left back. ^[3]

On 11 January 2012, after being a regular starter for Brasilis, Pituca moved back to Mandi. ^[5] He only scored his first senior goal on 3 March of the following year, in a 2–2 home draw against Sertãozinho; thirteen days later, however, he netted a brace in a 4–1 home routing of Marília.

After two seasons as a starter, Pituca joined Matonense in April 2013. ^[6] On 28 May 2014, he was loaned to União São João until the end of the year's Paulistão Segunda Divisão. ^[7]

Botafogo-SP

Pituca during an interview with Botafogo-SP in 2017

Upon returning to Matonense, Pituca impressed enough for the side to secure a loan deal to Botafogo-SP on 19 May 2015, despite being relegated with his previous club. ^[8] He immediately became a starter at the side, helping in their Campeonato Brasileiro Série D winning campaign.

Pituca signed a permanent deal with Bota for the 2016 season, and remained a mainstay afterwards. On 17 November of that year, he renewed his contract until the end of 2018. ^[9]

Santos

Pituca representing Santos in 2018

On 29 May 2017 Pituca joined Santos, being initially assigned to the B-team. ^[10] The following 24 January, he was promoted to the first team by new manager Jair Ventura. ^[11]

Pituca made his first team – and Série A – debut on 14 April 2018, replacing Jean Mota in a 2–0 home win against Ceará. ^[12] He made his Copa Libertadores debut on 24 May, starting in a 0–0 home draw against Real Garcilaso. ^[13]

Pituca scored his first senior goal for Peixe on 23 September 2018, netting the opener in a 1–1 home draw against Vasco da Gama. Under new manager Cuca, he became an undisputed starter ^[14] and finished the campaign with 34 league appearances.

On 3 May 2019, Pituca renewed his contract until April 2023. ^[15] He remained a regular under subsequent managers Jorge Sampaoli and Jesualdo Ferreira, playing in a more advanced midfield role with the latter. ^[16]

On 10 November 2020, it was announced that Pituca and a further six first team players tested positive for COVID-19. ^[17]

Kashima Antlers

On 15 January 2021, Santos president Andrés Rueda announced the sale of Pituca to Japanese club Kashima Antlers. ^[18] Antlers confirmed the transfer six days later, with Pituca joining the club after the 2020 Copa Libertadores Final. ^[19]

Despite the J1 League season beginning in February, due to the COVID-19 pandemic Pituca was only allowed to enter Japan on April 2 and had to isolate for 14 days on arrival. ^[20] He eventually made his debut in the J.League Cup, coming on as a substitute in a 2–2 draw with Sagan Tosu. ^[21] He scored his first goal for Kashima in a 4-0 J1 League win over Consadole Sapporo. ^[22] He went on to make 37 appearances across all competitions in his debut season, scoring 2 goals.

Santos return

Pituca in action for Santos in 2024

On 20 July 2023, Santos announced an agreement with Pituca for a four-year contract, effective on 1 January 2024, after his contract with Kashima expired. ^[23] On 31 December, Santos confirmed his return. ^[24]

Pituca was a regular starter for the club in the 2024 Campeonato Paulista, being named in the best XI of the competition.

Career statistics

Club

As of 18 November 2024. ^[25]

Club	Season	League			State League		Cup		League Cup		Continental		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Mineiros	2011	Goiano 2ª Divisão	—		0	0	—		—		—		—		0	0
Brasilis	2011	Paulista 2ª Divisão	—		15	0	—		—		—		—		15	0
Guaçuano	2012	Paulista A3	—		22	0	—		—		—		11 [a]	0	33	0
	2013		—		17	6	—		—		—		—		17	6
	Total		—		39	6	—		—		—		11	0	50	6
Matonense	2013 [26]	Paulista 2ª Divisão	—		26	3	—		—		—		—		26	3
	2014	Paulista A3	—		22	3	—		—		—		—		22	3
	2015	Paulista A2	—		17	0	—		—		—		—		17	0
	Total		—		65	6	—		—		—		—		65	6
União São João (loan)	2014 [27]	Paulista 2ª Divisão	—		13	3	—		—		—		—		13	3
Botafogo–SP	2015	Série D	12	0	—		—		—		—		—		12	0
	2016	Série C	19	0	14	3	—		—		—		—		33	3
	2017		2	0	13	0	—		—		—		—		15	0
	Total		33	0	27	3	—		—		—		—		60	3
Santos	2017	Série A	—		—		—		—		—		17 [a]	3	17	3
	2018		34	1	—		3	0	—		3 [b]	0	—		40	1
	2019		35	2	14	1	7	1	—		2 [c]	0	—		58	4
	2020		27	1	13	1	2	0	—		12 [b]	1	—		54	3
	Total		96	4	27	2	12	1	—		17	1	17	3	169	11
Kashima Antlers	2021	J1 League	26	2	—		4	0	7	0	—		—		37	2
	2022		28	1	—		4	1	3	1	—		—		35	3
	2023		31	3	—		1	0	5	0	—		—		37	3
	Total		85	6	—		9	1	15	1	—		—		109	8
Santos	2024	Série B	35	4	15	1	—		—		—		—		50	5
Career total			249	14	201	21	21	2	15	1	17	1	28	3	531	42

1. Appearance(s) in Copa Paulista
2. Appearance(s) in Copa Libertadores
3. Appearance(s) in Copa Sudamericana

Honours

Club

Matonense

• Campeonato Paulista Segunda Divisão: 2013^{[ citation needed ]}

Botafogo-SP

• Campeonato Brasileiro Série D: 2015 ^{[ citation needed ]}

Individual

• Campeonato Paulista Team of the Year: 2019, ^[28] 2024 ^[29]

References

1. "Diego Pituca" (in Japanese). Santos. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
2. ""Quero fazer história no Santos"" ["I want to make history at Santos"] (in Portuguese). Jornal Grande Jogada. 14 June 2017. Archived from the original on 14 July 2018. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
3. ""Meu sonho é ter a minha cara no muro do CT", por Diego Pituca" ["My dream is to have my face painted in the wall of the training ground", by Diego Pituca] (in Portuguese). Diário do Peixe. 15 October 2018. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
4. "Brasilis 0 x 1 Guaçuano - Mandi estreia com vitória na Segundona!" [Brasilis 0–1 Guaçuano – Mandi debut with victory in the Segundona!] (in Portuguese). Futebol Interior. 7 May 2011. Retrieved 28 May 2017.
5. "Guaçuano renova com metade do elenco do ano passado e contrata mais 12" [Guaçuano renew with half of the squad of the last year and sign another 12] (in Portuguese). Futebol Barretos. 11 January 2012. Retrieved 28 May 2017.
6. "Matonense apresenta elenco para a temporada" [Matonense present squad for the season] (in Portuguese). JC Matão. 19 April 2013. Retrieved 28 May 2017.^{[ permanent dead link ‍]}
7. "União São João contrata meia que subiu com Matonense na Série A3" [União São João sign midfielder who was promoted with Matonense in the Série A3] (in Portuguese). Globo Esporte. 28 May 2014. Retrieved 28 May 2017.
8. "Bota-SP apresenta Francis, Samuel, Jardel e Diego Pituca nesta terça-feira" [Bota-SP present Francis, Samuel, Jardel and Diego Pita this Tuesday] (in Portuguese). Globo Esporte. 19 May 2015. Retrieved 28 May 2017.
9. "Diego Pituca renova contrato com o Botafogo-SP até o fim de 2018" [Diego Pituca renews contract with Botafogo-SP until the end of 2018] (in Portuguese). Globo Esporte. 17 November 2016. Retrieved 28 May 2017.
10. "Santos acerta a contratação de Diego Pituca, do Botafogo-SP" [Santos sign Diego Pituca, from Botafogo-SP] (in Portuguese). Esporte Interativo. 29 May 2017. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
11. "Diego Pituca é promovido ao profissional do Santos" [Diego Pituca is promoted to the professionals of Santos] (in Portuguese). Lance!. 24 January 2018. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
12. "Santos bate Ceará e volta a vencer em estreia de Brasileirão depois de 13 anos" [Santos defeat Ceará and is back to winning in debut after 13 years] (in Portuguese). Globo Esporte. 14 April 2018. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
13. "Santos empata com Real Garcilaso e vai às oitavas da Libertadores como líder do grupo" [Santos draw against Real Garcilaso and go to Libertadores' round of 16 as group leaders] (in Portuguese). ESPN Brasil. 24 May 2018. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
14. "Qualidade no passe torna Diego Pituca incontestável no meio-campo do Santos" [Passing quality makes Diego Pituca indisputable at Santos' midfield] (in Brazilian Portuguese). IG. 8 September 2018. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
15. "Santos anuncia renovação do contrato de Diego Pituca" [Santos announce Diego Pituca's contract renewal] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Globo Esporte. 3 May 2019. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
16. "Diego Pituca explica nova função, vê Santos 70% pronto e diz: "Quero ter a cara no muro"" [Diego Pituca explains new role, sees Santos 70% ready and states: "I want to have my face in the wall"] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Globo Esporte. 14 February 2020. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
17. "Nota Oficial" [Official note] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Santos FC. 10 November 2020. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
18. "Presidente do Santos confirma venda de Diego Pituca para clube japonês" [Santos president confirms sale of Diego Pituca to Japanese club] (in Brazilian Portuguese). GloboEsporte.com. 15 January 2021. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
19. "ディエゴ ピトゥカ選手が完全移籍で加入" [Diego Pituca joins with full transfer] (in Japanese). Kashima Antlers. 21 January 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
20. "ディエゴ ピトゥカ選手 入国のお知らせ | 鹿島アントラーズ オフィシャルサイト". 鹿島アントラーズ オフィシャルサイト | KASHIMA ANTLERS (in Japanese). Retrieved 31 December 2021.
21. "Sagan Tosu vs. Kashima Antlers - 28 April 2021 - Soccerway". uk.soccerway.com. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
22. "Kashima Antlers vs. Consadole Sapporo - 27 June 2021 - Soccerway". uk.soccerway.com. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
23. "Diego Pituca volta para o Santos FC" [Diego Pituca returns to Santos FC] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Santos FC. 20 July 2023. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
24. "Diego Pituca confirma retorno ao Santos FC" [Diego Pituca confirms return to Santos FC] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Santos FC. 31 December 2023. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
25. Diego Pituca at Soccerway. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
26. "Paulista - Segunda Divisão - 2013" (in Portuguese). Federação Paulista de Futebol. 27 February 2017.
27. "Paulista - Segunda Divisão - 2014" (in Portuguese). Federação Paulista de Futebol. 27 February 2017.
28. "Corinthians, Jean Mota e Martinelli dominam premiação do campeonato" [Corinthians, Jean Mota and Martinelli dominate the tournament's awards] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Federação Paulista de Futebol. 22 April 2019. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
29. "Vice, Santos domina a seleção do Campeonato Paulista; Abel, do Palmeiras, é o melhor técnico" [Runners-up, Santos dominate the Campeonato Paulista Best XI; Abel, from Palmeiras, is the best head coach] (in Brazilian Portuguese). ge. 8 April 2024. Retrieved 9 April 2024.

External links

• Diego Pituca at Soccerway
• Diego Pituca at J.League ( archive ) (in Japanese)