*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 14:33, 22 March 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 14:33, 22 March 2024 (UTC)
Cristhian Andrey Mosquera Ibargüen (born 27 June 2004) is a Spanish professional
footballer who plays mainly as a
centre-back for
Valencia CF.
Early life
Born in
Alicante,
Valencian Community to
Colombian parents, Mosquera first played
basketball in his hometown, before joining
futsal team San Blas Cañavate, as his cousin was playing there and they were missing a player for a youth tournament. Having later moved to play in
Carolines Altes [
ca]-based team SCD Carolinas, he eventually joined the city main football club,
Hércules CF.[2][3][4][5]
Having already featured on the bench for a few Liga fixtures that
season,[3][9][10] he made his first team debut on the 16 January 2022, starting in a 1–0 away win over
CD Atlético Baleares, for
the season's
Copa del Rey. Playing every minutes of the game in the center of a 3-men defense, his coach
José Bordalás praised him as the best on the field that night.[11][12][13] At the age of 17 years, six months and 23 days, he became the eight-youngest player in the club's history, and the youngest centre-back.[2][4][13][14]
Set to further renew his contract with the Che until 2025,[15][16] Mosquera made his
La Liga debut on the 19 January 2022 by starting in a 1–1 draw against
Sevilla FC, again impressing in the axis of the defense for what was a difficult game against the likes of
Rafa Mir.[6][17][18] This made him the fourth-youngest footballer to ever play in La Liga with Los murciélagos, surpassing players such as
Ferran Torres,
Lee Kang-in or
Yunus Musah.[19][20]
In August 2023, Mosquera was definitely promoted to the main squad of the Che.[21]
Mainly playing as a
centre-back during his time at Valencia's academy, Mosquera can also play as a
full-back on both sides.[7] When he made the switch from
futsal to
association football as a youngster, he actually played as a
winger, where he first showed his athletic abilities.[4]
Already a strong physical presence despite his young age, he is described as a quick defender, with good anticipation and ability to play the ball, helping his team move forward.[2][3][5][9][13]Miguel Ángel Angulo – his coach at Mestalla – described the youngster's profile as characterized by his "physical condition and good technical qualities, powerful in the air, and mature for his age".[3]
^Valle, Conrado (16 January 2022).
"Un Valencia práctico y a otra ronda" [A practical Valencia and to another round] (in Spanish). Diario AS.
Archived from the original on 16 January 2022. Retrieved 19 January 2022.