Ayala, Roberto

AC Milan & Argentina

Birthdate: April 12, 1973
Birthplace: Parana, Argentina
Height: 177 cms
Weight: 75 kgs
Position: Central Defender
International: 57 caps, 3 goals (as of June 13, 2000)
World Cups: 1 (1998)
Previous Clubs: Ferrocarril Oeste, River Plate, Napoli
Transfer Fee: $6.50 Millions of Dollars

Despite his role as captain of Argentina, Ayala has had limited opportunities to break into the Milan side. The Rossoneri snapped him up from Napoli in the summer of 1998, but he found his path blocked by the resurgent form of Costacurta. On the rare occasions that Zaccheroni picked him, however, he quickly found his feet: he was excellent in the key fixture in Udine when he replaced the suspended “Billy”. In all, he made eleven appearances last season. In July, at the Copa America in Paraguay, it was his missed penalty (saved by Brazilian keeper Dida) that ruled Argentina out of a place in the quarter-finals. Ayala became the first Argentine footballer to don the the black-and-red-striped shirt of Milan since 1968, and was swiftly followed by Guly. He is fanatical about the music of his native Argentina. Married with three children, he is a devoted family man.