Little Diego's Big European Adventure

         Standing at 1.61m Diego Buonanotte isn't the tallest of players but the diminutive winger has an extraordinary amount of talent that he'll be hoping to use to set La LIga alight as he starts his first foray into European football. Having signed for Malaga CF for around €5million on the 14th January it will be the first time that Buonanotte has moved from the club, River Plate, that nurtured his talent through a tumuluous couple of years that has seen little Diego nearly die, go to prison and receive a premature end to his football career.

       Making his debut at the age of 17, Diego became a pivotal part of the River team that won the Apertura in 2008 and saw him recognised by World Soccer Magazine as one of the '50 most exciting teenagers in world football'. His ability was not overlooked by the big European teams who were constantly linked with moves for Diego. It all seems as though the world was at young Buonanotte's feet, however it all nearly came crashing down on one unfortunate night in December 2009.

      Driving back to his home town of Teodelina with 3 childhood friends, Diego's car swerved off the road amidst a heavy downpour and hit a tree killing his three friends and leaving himself severely injured. After being rushed to intensive care it was found that Diego had a broken collar bone, broken arm and a bruised lung, however, it was the mental scars that everybody involved with Diego were worried about. Having thought to be out for around 7 months or so Diego made a speedy recovery and was back playing for River in April 2010. So his career would return back to normal, right?

       Not quite, there was yet another thing marring Diego's career. Due to the deaths of his friends and him being at the wheel when he car swerved off the road Diego was charged with the triple involuntary manslaughter of this three friends after the prosecutors said he was 'driving negligently'. Facing up to 5 years in prison it was an uncertain period for Diego who continued to play for River. Finally, after such misfortune Diego receive a bit of good luck! Judge Marisa Munoz Saggese dismissed the charges the charges against Diego. With his new club the future looks bright for Diego Buonanotte, who is still only 22, and it is now up to him to show Europe what he's got...