Exequiel Palacios: The Dynamic Argentine Midfield Star

Exequiel Palacios is the complete midfielder with a balanced blend of offensive and defensive nous. He has starred admirably for River Plate and now Bayern Leverkusen. Palacios’ career has seen him play with elite players such as Julian Alvarez, Lionel Messi and Florian Wirtz.

Palacios’ career has seen him overcome an injury which affected his move to Real Madrid and becoming a Copa America and FIFA World Cup winner. His journey is one of resilience and an indomitable spirit. Join Footballers’ Biographies as we explore the journey of Exequiel Palacios.

Player Profile – Exequiel Alejandro Palacios

Exequiel Alejandro Palacios, born on October 5, 1998, in Famaillá, Argentina, is a talented midfielder for Bayer Leverkusen and the Argentina national team. He rose to prominence at River Plate, playing a crucial role in their 2018 Copa Libertadores victory and earning a spot in the 2018 Equipo Ideal de América.

Palacios debuted for Argentina’s national team in September 2018 and has participated in major tournaments like Copa América and World Cup qualifiers.

Despite facing significant injuries, his resilience and exceptional skills have marked his career. Since joining Bayer Leverkusen in January 2020, he has shown his versatility and tactical intelligence, making him a promising player for the future.

Player Profile Overview

Exequiel Palacios’ Early Life and Background

Exequiel Palacios was born on October 5, 1998, in Famaillá, Argentina. Growing up in a modest family, he developed a passion for football early on and began playing in local leagues.

His talent caught the attention of scouts, leading to his recruitment by River Plate’s youth academy. This pivotal move allowed him to hone his skills and set the stage for his future success as a professional footballer.

Exequiel Palacios’ Career Highlight

Following his participation in the 2015 FIFA U17 World Cup, Palacios made his senior debut for River Plate just a month after turning 17. He played the second half in a 2-0 loss to Newell’s Old Boys on the final day of the season.

However, his breakthrough occurred during the 2018/19 season when he established himself as a regular in midfield, playing various roles from holding to attacking positions.

Exequiel Palacios played a crucial role in River Plate’s victorious 2018 Copa Libertadores campaign, featuring in every knockout match. Recognizing his contributions, he was named in the 2018 Equipo Ideal de América by the Uruguayan newspaper El País, which honours the best XI of South American-based players annually.

Potential Move to Real Madrid

A fractured fibula sidelined him at the start of 2019 and reportedly halted a potential move to Real Madrid. However, Palacios recovered and went on to win the Recopa Sudamericana against Athletico Paranaense in May.

Despite River Plate’s loss to Flamengo in the 2019 Libertadores final, Palacios signed a five-year deal with Bayer Leverkusen in January 2020, where he led the Argentinian Superliga in completed passes at the time of his departure.

His final match for River Plate ended with a Copa Argentina victory over Central Cordoba, where he was also named in the tournament’s best XI, having amassed 10 goals and 11 assists in 77 competitive appearances for Los Millonarios.

Exequiel Palacios’ European Adventure: The Bayern Leverkusen Era

Making his debut for Bayer Leverkusen in February 2020, Palacios played the entire 90 minutes in a DFB Cup victory over VfB Stuttgart.

His Bundesliga debut followed shortly after in a win against Augsburg. However, injuries, including a fractured vertebra suffered while on international duty against Paraguay, frequently interrupted his progress in Germany.

Palacios’ stand-out era in Germany came alongside Florian Wirtz, Victor Boniface and Jeremie Frimpong during Bayern Leverkusen’s invincible season.

Exequiel Palacios’ International Career

Exequiel Palacios started his international career with Argentina’s U17 side in 2015. He represented Argentina U17, earning silver at the 2014 South American Games and finishing as runners-up again at the 2015 South American U17 Championship.

Among the 22 players in the 2015 Argentina squad, Palacios is the sole player to have advanced to senior international level.

Although he only featured once in the league in 2016, Palacios began to see more playing time in the latter part of the 2016/17 season. His opportunities were limited by his involvement in the 2017 FIFA U20 World Cup in South Korea.

Exequiel Palacios debuts for Argentina

Exequiel Palacios made his international debut for Argentina on 8 September 2018 in a 3–0 friendly win against Guatemala. Palacios fractured a bone in his spine during a 1–1 World Cup qualifier draw with Paraguay, leading to a three-month recovery period.

The injury occurred during an aerial duel with Angel Romero, and he was replaced by Giovani Lo Celso, who assisted Nicolas Gonzalez‘s equalizing goal. Exequiel Palacios was part of the Argentine squad that competed at the 2021 Copa America held in Brazil after the Covid-19 pandemic.

He featured for Argentina during the tournament coming on as a second-half substitute in Copa América final. Argentina won the final 1-0 courtesy of an Angel di Maria goal in the first half.

Exequiel Palacios Wins the World Cup with Argentina

Exequiel Palacios also played for Argentina during the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Palacios played in several key matches, including a 2–0 group stage win over Mexico, a 2–1 round of 16 victory over Australia, and a 3–0 semi-final win against Croatia.

However, the Argentine midfielder did not feature in the pulsating 3-3 final where goals from Lionel Messi, Angel di Maria and a Kylian Mbappe hattrick sent the tie into a penalty shootout. Misses from Kingsley Coman and Aurelien Tchouaméni saw Argentina win the World Cup.

His impressive performances with the all-conquering Bayern Leverkusen side that won the domestic double in Germany has seen Palacios receive a call-up to the Argentine Squad for the 2024 Copa America in Brazil.

Exequiel Palacios’ Playing Style and Strengths

Palacios is a versatile and dynamic central midfielder, excelling both in offensive drives and in recovering possession. This makes him a unique player in Argentina, where midfielders are typically categorized as either defensive anchormen or creative playmakers.

Palacios bridges this divide, contributing significantly in both the attacking and defensive phases of the game, and occasionally scoring crucial goals.

Exequiel Palacios’ Personal Life and Controversy

Exequiel Palacios was the center of a minor celebrity scandal in Argentina due to a romance with TV weather girl and model Sol Perez.

This relationship was complicated by Palacios’ existing girlfriend, Karen Gramajo, whose relationship with Palacios was revealed to Perez on live television.

Further complicating matters, another woman named Juliana also claimed involvement with Palacios. Despite this domestic turmoil, Palacios’ performance on the field remained unaffected.

Conclusion

Exequiel Palacios’ journey from Famaillá to international football is marked by resilience and talent. Overcoming injuries and challenges, he has excelled with River Plate, Bayer Leverkusen, and Argentina’s national team.

As he prepares to represent Argentina at the 2024 Copa America, the stage is set for him to write more history and make his football history. Footballers’ Biographies will continue to document the adventures and success stories of Exequiel Palacios.