Rodrigo Vilca

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Vilcaand the second or maternal family name is Betetta.

Rodrigo Vilca

Personal information
Full name	Rodrigo Gary Vilca Betetta [1]
Date of birth	(1999-03-12) 12 March 1999 (age 25)
Place of birth	Callao, Lima, Peru [2]
Height	1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) [2]
Position(s)	Midfielder
Team information
Current team	Voždovac
Number	25
Youth career
	San Vicente
	Blue Rays
	Sporting Diez
	Sporting Cristal
2013–2016	Universidad César Vallejo
2017–2018	Deportivo Municipal
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2018–2020	Deportivo Municipal	27	(4)
2020–2024	Newcastle United	0	(0)
2021	→ Doncaster Rovers (loan)	10	(1)
2022	→ Universitario (loan)	22	(1)
2023–2024	→ Voždovac (loan)	16	(2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23 June 2024 (UTC)

Rodrigo Gary Vilca Betetta (born 12 March 1999) is a Peruvian footballer who last played as a midfielder for Premier League club Newcastle United.

Early life

Born in Callao in the Lima metropolitan area of Peru, Vilca emigrated to Spain at the age of three. ^[3]

Club career

Early career

Having played youth football in Spain with San Vicente in Albacete, and also training in the academy of former footballer José Zalazar, his father decided to return to Peru, taking Vilca with him, in 2010. ^[3] Having settled in Gambetta, Callao, Vilca began his career in Peru with a team named Blue Rays in Rímac. ^[3] From there he moved on to Sporting Diez, and began training with professional side Sporting Cristal on a monthly basis. ^[3] After a four-year spell with Universidad César Vallejo, Vilca joined the academy of Deportivo Municipal at the age of seventeen. ^[3]

Having suffered two fractures, to his foot in 2017 and to his collarbone the following year, Vilca made his professional debut for Deportivo Municipal in the final game of the 2018 season, starting in a 2–0 loss to Sport Huancayo. ^[3] He began to establish himself in the following season, and was set to become a key player for the team in 2020, before the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in Peru led to a five-month hiatus of the league. ^[4]

Newcastle United

In September 2020, it was reported by English newspaper the Daily Mail that Vilca was close to signing with Premier League side Newcastle United. ^[5] The following month, on 5 October, this transfer was confirmed by Newcastle United, with Vilca signing a four-year deal. ^[6] He began training with the first-team squad immediately, in part because of absences due to the COVID-19 pandemic. ^[7] On 19 October, he made his debut with Newcastle's under-23 side, starting against Fulham in the Premier League 2, before scoring his first goal for the youth side in a 3–2 loss to Reading on 30 October. ^{[8] [9]}

Loan to Doncaster Rovers

The following season, after three appearances for Newcastle's under-21 side, Vilca joined EFL League One side Doncaster Rovers on 31 August 2021, signing a short-term loan deal until January. ^{[10] [11]} He was immediately integrated into the first team, and made his debut as a starter a week after joining; playing at left-wing in an EFL Trophy tie against Rotherham United, he was replaced in the second half by Dan Gardner as Doncaster Rovers lost 6–0 on 7 September. ^[12]

He scored his first and only goal for the club on 23 October 2021; having started in an EFL League One fixture against Cheltenham Town, he received a pass from Ben Close before skipping past a Cheltenham Town defender and finishing past goalkeeper Scott Flinders as Doncaster Rovers went on to win 3–2. ^[13] His loan ended at the end of 2021, with Vilca thanking fans for their support and wishing the club well for the rest of the season. ^[14]

Loan to Universitario

On 11 March 2022, having briefly returned to Newcastle's under-21 side, Vilca was loaned to Universitario in his native Peru until the end of the 2022 season. ^[15] He made his debut the following day, coming on as a second-half substitute for Hernán Novick in an eventual 1–1 draw with Cienciano. ^[16] He was criticised by media in Peru for missing what was seen as a good chance to make the score 2–1 to Universitario. ^[17]

He scored his first goal for the club on 24 July 2022, as Universitario beat Carlos Stein 2–0 in the Peruvian Primera División. ^[18] Following Universitario's 2–0 away win against Alianza Lima on 4 September 2022, Vilca, as well as physio Guido Thompson, were hit by objects thrown by Alianza fans from the stands. Universitario issued a statement following the incident, requesting punishment for their opponents. ^[19]

Vilca was criticised by sports journalist Erick Osores  [ es ] following Universitario's 0–0 draw with Sporting Cristal on 9 October 2022, with Osores stating that Vilca should not have come on as a substitute because he is a "ghost", alluding to a perceived inability to have an impact on the match. ^[20] This would prove to be his last game for the club, as the following month Universitario announced that Vilca would be returning to Newcastle, and would not be part of the squad the following season. ^[21]

Loan to Voždovac

Vilca returned once again to Newcastle, featuring in a number of games for their under-21 squad, despite being over-age, in early 2023. In June of the same year, he was linked with a move back to Spain, and was reportedly close to joining Albacete. ^[22] Instead, he moved on a season-long loan to Serbian SuperLiga side FK Voždovac on 5 September 2023. ^[23]

International career

Vilca was called up to the Peruvian under-18 side for a microcycle in 2017. ^[3] Despite his good form at club level, he missed out on a place in the Peruvian Olympic Team ahead of the 2020 CONMEBOL Pre-Olympic Tournament due to the form of fellow right-wingers Kevin Quevedo, Kevin Sandoval and Fernando Pacheco. ^[24]

Career statistics

Club

As of 22 September 2023 ^[25]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			Cup		Continental		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Deportivo Municipal	2018	Peruvian Primera División	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
	2019		13	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	13	1
	2020		13	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	10	3
	Total		27	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	27	4
Newcastle United	2020–21	Premier League	0	0	0	0	—		0	0	0	0
	2021–22		0	0	0	0	—		0	0	0	0
	Total		0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Newcastle United U20	2020–21	—	—		—		—		1 [lower-alpha 1]	0	1	0
Doncaster Rovers (loan)	2021–22	League One	10	1	0	0	–		2 [lower-alpha 1]	0	12	1
Universitario (loan)	2022	Peruvian Primera División	22	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	22	1
Voždovac (loan)	2023–24	Serbian SuperLiga	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Career total			34	5	0	0	0	0	3	0	37	5

1. Appearances in EFL Trophy

References

1. "2020/21 Premier League squads confirmed". Premier League. 20 October 2020. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
2. Rodrigo Vilca at WorldFootball.net
3. Yaipén, Daniel (13 September 2020). "Rodrigo Vilca: "Me siento con posibilidades, mi momento llegará"" [Rodrigo Vilca: “I feel like I have possibilities, my moment will come”]. once.pe (in Spanish). Retrieved 22 September 2023.
4. Bernuy, Carlos (28 April 2020). "Rodrigo Vilca: "Chocaba con Adrián Zela y salía volando"" [Rodrigo Vilca: “He collided with Adrián Zela and flew away”]. trome.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 22 September 2023.
5. Lerner, Dan (17 September 2020). "Rodrigo Vilca, muy cerca de fichar por el Newcastle" [Rodrigo Vilca, very close to signing for Newcastle]. peru.as.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 22 September 2023.
6. "Peruvian youngster Rodrigo Vilca joins Newcastle United". nufc.co.uk. 5 October 2020. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
7. "Rodrigo Vilca viene entrenando con el primer equipo del Newcastle" [Rodrigo Vilca has been training with the Newcastle first team]. libero.pe (in Spanish). 9 October 2020. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
8. "Rodrigo Vilca y su debut soñado: Newcastle United ganó 2-1 al Fulham por la Premier League 2" [Rodrigo Vilca and his dream debut: Newcastle United beat Fulham 2-1 in the Premier League 2]. elpopular.pe (in Spanish). 19 October 2020. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
9. "Rodrigo Vilca marcó su primer gol con Newcastle U-23 en derrota de su equipo ante Reading" [Rodrigo Vilca scored his first goal for Newcastle U-23 in his team's defeat against Reading]. futbolperuano.com (in Spanish). 30 October 2020. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
10. "Rovers sign Newcastle winger Vilca on loan". doncasterroversfc.co.uk. 31 August 2021. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
11. "Vilca joins Doncaster Rovers on loan". nufc.co.uk. 31 August 2021. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
12. "Rodrigo Vilca debutó como titular en la goleada que sufrió Doncaster en Inglaterra" [Rodrigo Vilca made his debut as a starter in the rout that Doncaster suffered in England]. elcomercio.pe (in Spanish). 7 September 2021. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
13. "Newcastle destacó a Rodrigo Vilca por su primer gol en Inglaterra con Doncaster Rovers" [Newcastle highlighted Rodrigo Vilca for his first goal in England with Doncaster Rovers]. larepublica.pe (in Spanish). 25 October 2021. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
14. "Rodrigo Vilca no va más en Doncaster Rovers: peruano se despidió así del equipo" [Rodrigo Vilca is no longer at Doncaster Rovers: the Peruvian said goodbye to the team]. depor.com (in Spanish). 29 December 2021. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
15. "Rodrigo Vilca dejó Inglaterra y llegó a la U: "Vengo a lograr grandes cosas"" [Rodrigo Vilca left England and came to the U: “I come to achieve great things”]. directvsports.com (in Spanish). 11 March 2022. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
16. "Rodrigo Vilca luego del empate de Universitario: "Es un debut amargo, necesitábamos ganar"" [Rodrigo Vilca after Universitario's draw: "It's a bitter debut, we needed to win"]. libero.pe (in Spanish). 12 March 2022. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
17. "Rodrigo Vilca falló increíble ocasión de gol en el Universitario vs Cienciano por la Liga 1" [Rodrigo Vilca missed an incredible scoring opportunity in the Universitario vs Cienciano in Liga 1]. infobae.com (in Spanish). 12 March 2022. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
18. "Rodrigo Vilca anotó su primer gol con Universitario luego de un incisivo contragolpe ante Carlos Stein por Liga 1" [Rodrigo Vilca scored his first goal with Universitario after an incisive counterattack against Carlos Stein in Liga 1]. infobae.com (in Spanish). 24 July 2022. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
19. "Universitario pide sanción para Alianza tras la agresión a Vilca y su preparador físico" [Universitario request sanction for Alianza after the attack on Vilca and his physical trainer]. libero.pe (in Spanish). 5 September 2022. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
20. "Erick Osores arremetió contra Rodrigo Vilca: "Es un fantasma" - VIDEO" [Erick Osores attacked Rodrigo Vilca: "He is a ghost" - VIDEO]. libero.pe (in Spanish). 9 October 2022. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
21. "Universitario de Deportes anunció la salida de Rodrigo Vilca" [Universitario de Deportes announced the departure of Rodrigo Vilca]. espn.com.co (in Spanish). 4 November 2022. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
22. Uceda Castro, Bruno Isrrael (22 June 2023). "Rodrigo Vilca se hartó de Newcastle y ficha por increíble equipo español" [Rodrigo Vilca got fed up with Newcastle and signs for an incredible Spanish team]. elfutbolero.com.pe (in Spanish). Retrieved 22 September 2023.
23. "Iz Njukasla na Krov – Svraka postala Zmaj" [From Newcastle to the Roof - The Magpie became the Dragon]. fkvozdovac.rs (in Serbian). 5 September 2023. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
24. "Selección Peruana Sub-23: Los grandes olvidados por Solano para el Preolímpico 2020 [FOTOS]" [Peruvian U-23 National Team: The greats forgotten by Solano for the 2020 Pre-Olympic [PHOTOS]]. libero.pe (in Spanish). 28 November 2019. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
25. Rodrigo Vilca at Soccerway. Retrieved 19 September 2020.