FORMER ATLETICO DE MADRID midfielder Alberto Noguera Ripoll has joined FC Goa.
The 30 year old Gerafe youth product has had a professional career spanning 13 years across different countries, mostly in Europe, and this is his first time playing in a country outside UEFA.
After his early spells at lower tier sides Rayo Vallecano B, Rayo Majadahonda and SS Reyes, Alberto got a big break in 2009 when he was picked up by Atletico de Madrid. There, he worled up the ladder, appearing forst for the club's C team, then for Atletico De Madrid B in Segunda Division B, finally making it to the first team in 2011.
His first La Liga appearance was against Levante in April 2011, and next month he came on against Hercules. Both times he was introduced as a last-minute substitute and in total he had about 5 minutes of game time for the Atletico first team.
He then signed for Blackpool, who were playing at the Championship. There, too, he didn't get much regular game time, appearing only once in the league as a second half substitute.
But things turned around for him in 2013 when he went over to FC Baku, a top flight club in Azerbaijan. He made 21 appearances for the club in league and cup, including 9 starts. He also scored his first top flight goal, against Neftci.
In 2014 he returned to Spain, appearing for Segunda Division B side Trival Valderas. Now a much more mature player, he became a regular starter for the club. His good form continued next season when he joined Fuenlabrada, before going over to Lorca for a couple of seasons. He was at the thick of things when Lorca fought their way up from Segunda B to the Segunda Division. He left the club in 2018.
Over the next two years he played for Numancia, including a loan spell at Racing Santander.
His move to India, playing for the ISL 2019-20 League Champions FC Goa, is a significant move as he has a chance to experience competitive continental football for the first time in his career when the Gaurs appear in the AFC Champions League 2021.