Mauricio Pinilla

Mauricio Ricardo Pinilla Ferrera popularly known as Mauricio Pinilla is a Chilean professional footballer, born on 4th February 1984 at Santiago de Chile in Chile. The right-footed centre-forward has 45 caps for the national side, Chile. He currently plays for Chile's first-tier club, Club Universidad de Chile.

Background

Pinilla started his football career at Club Universidad de Chile youth team before getting promoted to the senior side. In July 2003, he was picked up by Serie A side, Inter Milan, but he was sent to another top-tier side, Chievo Verona, on loan within a month of joining the Italian giant.

Debut

Pinilla got his maiden international cap in the Group A of South American World Cup Qualification match against Argentina in September 2006. Coming on the pitch ten minutes after the half-time, Pinilla assisted Reinaldo Navia to level the scoreline at two-all.in the 77th-minute.

Three days later, he was awarded a first XI start and netted his maiden international goal against Peru.

Rise to Glory

In his first six games for the national team, he showed decent prospect with two goals and two assists.

In March 2016, Pinilla netted a brace in the Group A South American World Qualification encounter against Venezuela.

Low Points

Pinilla could never really establish himself in the national team and got dropped several times. After playing twelve matches, the forward was dropped from the team for six long years. Pinilla’s return to the national side looks senile as he played his last match back in September 2016 against Bolivia in the Group A of South American World Cup Qualification. In total, Pinilla netted eight times in his 45 appearances for Chile.

Club Career

In his early days, Pinilla hardly got any chance to settle down in a club. On completion of his loan period with Chievo Verona, Inter Milan sent him to Spanish side, Celta Vigo, on loan in January 2004 where the Chilean international’s all six appearances came as a substitution. In the summer of 2004, Pinilla joined Portuguese side, Sporting CP.at 1.35 million Euro.

He scored only five goals in the 2004-05 Primeira Liga including a hattrick in the final match of the season against Sporting Braga in May 2005.Sporting sent to Racing. Pinilla joined Greece top-tier side, Heart of Midlothian FC, in July 2006 and was loaned to his Club Universidad de Chile before joining Brazilian side, Vasco da Gama in 2008.

He played for clubs like Apollon Limassol, FC Grosseto, US Palermo before joining Genoa from Cagliari Calcio in 2014.He shuffled between Genoa and Atalanta on loan making 24 and 38 appearances for two clubs respectively over the next three seasons. He finally returned to his country to join Club Universidad de Chile in 2017. In 2018, he scored four goals in six matches.