Germán Denis


Germán Gustavo Denis is an Argentine football striker who plays for Italian club Reggina.

Career

Denis began his career in 1997 playing for his local team Talleres de Remedios de Escalada in Primera B Metropolitana, which is the regionalised 3rd division of Argentine football.
In 2000, he moved to Primera newboys Club Atlético Los Andes, in Lomas de Zamora, but the club was relegated at the end of his first season, he continued playing for them in Primera B Nacional until he was signed by Italian Serie B side Cesena.
In 2003 made his return to Argentina and the Primera Division with Jorge Burruchaga's Arsenal de Sarandí. He played for them for two seasons before moving on to Colón. In the summer of 2006 he rejoined former manager Jorge Burruchaga at Independiente.
After scoring 15 goals in the first 13 games of the Apertura 2007 tournament, Denis was called up to join the Argentina national football team for the first two matches of the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification, against Chile and Venezuela. He made his debut with a brief substitute appearance against Venezuela on 16 October 2007.

Napoli

In June 2008 Denis signed for Italian Serie A club Napoli for a fee about €7.5285 million.
On his first appearance for the club, he scored a hat-trick as Napoli ran out winners in a friendly against Austrian side Jennersdorf. Napoli beat Jennersdorf 10–0. Denis scored his first official goal for Napoli against Vllaznia in the UEFA Cup, on 14 August 2008. He also scored once more in the UEFA Cup against Benfica. On 29 October, Denis scored the first hat-trick of his career in Serie A during Napoli's 3–0 victory over Reggina. With the arrival of new manager Donadoni, the latter started to prefer the Zalayeta-Lavezzi striking partnership, reducing Denis's playing time.

Udinese

In the 2010–11 Serie A season he moved to Udinese Calcio. He played the second leg against Arsenal in 2011–12 UEFA Champions League play-off round.

Atalanta

Serie A newcomer Atalanta B.C. signed Denis on a season-long loan for the 2011–12 season. Denis scored 12 goals in 16 matches between the start of the season and the winter break. After a loan spell the striker got back into the scoring way against Roma, on 26 February 2012 with a marvelous hat-trick and take his goal tally up to 15 for the season. Denis ended the season as the club's top scorer with 16 goals.
In November 2011, the Atalanta director, Pierpaolo Marino, confirmed that Denis will join the club on a permanent deal after the end of the player's loan contract. On 19 June, the deal was made and Denis signed a three-year contract with the Bergamo club, for an undisclosed fee.
On 27 April 2015, Denis was banned for five matches after he burst into the opposition dressing room the day before and punched Empoli defender Lorenzo Tonelli.
On 30 January 2016, Denis scored on his final appearance for Atalanta, a 1–1 draw against Sassuolo, before returning to play for Independiente in Argentina. He is the highest non-Italian goalscorer in the club's history, with 56 goals.

Reggina

Denis signed a two-year contract with Serie C outfit Reggina on 22 August 2019, making a return to Italy after three years.

Style of play

A powerful striker, who is capable of playing anywhere along the front-line, and of using his physique to hold up the ball for teammates, Denis is known for his goalscoring, as well as ability in the air. During his time in Argentina, he was given the nickname el tanque, which means the tank in Spanish, due to his physical strength. He is also an accurate penalty taker.

Career statistics


Honours

Individual