Club Career
Nicknamed Cata because of his origins from the province of Catamarca, Díaz started playing at youth amateur local team Juventud de Catamarca before moving in 1997 to Rosario Central, still as a youth. Three years later, he first appeared professionally.
Díaz moved to Club Deportivo Cruz Azul in 2003. After only one season with the Mexican club, he returned to Argentina to become Alfio Basile's captain in Colón de Santa Fe. Short after he received offers to move to Argentine giants Boca Juniors and Club Atlético River Plate, but being at that time Basile the former's coach, the player decided to move to the club for around $3 million.
Cata made his debut for Boca in a 4–1 victory over Gimnasia y Esgrima de Jujuy, and was a big part in the side's 2005 Apertura-winning campaign, adding the South American Supercup (win over Once Caldas of Colombia) and the South American Cup (defeat of Mexico's Club Universidad Nacional).
In the summer of 2007 Díaz moved to Spain's Getafe CF for €4 million, being a defensive cornerstone from the very beginning as the Madrid outskirts side reached the quarterfinals of the UEFA Cup in 2007–08. During his spell with the club he rarely missed one game when healthy – for instance, in his third season, he appeared in 30 matches (2,700 minutes of action) to help the team finish sixth and qualify for the Europa League.
On 15 June 2012 32-year old Díaz signed with fellow La Liga club Atlético Madrid, for two years and €1 million.
Read more about this topic: Daniel Diaz
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