Cristian (footballer, born 1979)
Cristian Martins Cabral (born 28 August 1979 in Uruguaiana, Rio Grande do Sul), simply known as Cristian, is a Brazilian footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder. Career Early career Cristian started his professional career on Velo Clube, a club from Rio Claro, São Paulo. During the period of 1999-2004 he got some highlight while playing the Campeonato Paulista, which lately earned him spells in other traditional clubs such as Guarani, Juventus and Ituano. Playing for Ituano, where he played the Campeonato Brasileiro Serie B, he started to get the spotlights. In 2004, he was then sold to Paraná. Paraná Hired by the club, Cristian soon started to highlight himself in the team, where he played the Campeonato Paranaense, Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A and Copa Sudamericana of that year. Besides of Paraná's only regular season in Serie A, it was in the club where his career was launched on national range. Due to his performance and regularity on that year, he was nominated for Bola de Prata (Silver Ball) award by Placar Magazine as best midfielder. His good plays soon drew attention of big Brazilian clubs and also from Europe, which disputed his hiring. Until finally in January 2005 he