Santiago Ascacíbar
Santiago Lionel Ascacíbar (born 25 February 1997) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Estudiantes. He also represents the Argentina national team. Ascacíbar began his career at hometown club Estudiantes. He then moved to Bundesliga team VfB Stuttgart in 2017, developing a reputation as a natural leader alongside criticism for his temperament. He completed a transfer to Hertha BSC in January 2020 after Stuttgart had suffered relegation the previous season, with manager Jürgen Klinsmann describing him as "one of the best defensive midfielders in the Bundesliga". Ascacíbar was part of the Argentine team that competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics. He made his senior debut in 2018. Early years Ascacíbar was born on 25 February 1997 in La Plata, Argentina, as part of an extended family: son of Mariana Rollero and Javier Ascacíbar, he was raised in Villa Elvira alongside his four brothers. His family also took in two of his teammates who for various reasons could not stay in the academy of his youth club Estudiantes; also considering both to be his brothers. Club career Estudiantes Ascacíbar arrived at Estudiantes in 2006 at the age of 8, after performing a trial in which coach