Sergio Canales

Sergio Canales Madrazo (Spanish pronunciation: ['serxjo ka'nalez ma'ðɾaθo]; born 16 February 1991) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for Real Sociedad as an attacking midfielder.

Racing Santander

Born in Santander, Cantabria, Canales was a product of hometown Racing de Santander's youth ranks, 50% of Canales' playing rights were bought by Deportivo de La Coruña in 2006, as part of the deal that saw Pedro Munitis return to Racing. Dudu Aouate and Antonio Tomás were also involved, in the opposite direction.

On 18 September 2008 he made his first team debut with Racing, playing in a UEFA Cup home tie against FC Honka of Finland, a 1–0 win. Roughly two weeks later he first appeared in La Liga, with the same result happening at CA Osasuna.

Having gradually received more playing time with the main squad, Canales scored twice against RCD Espanyol in a 4–0 away win on 6 December 2009, and repeated the feat at Sevilla FC on 9 January 2010 (2–1 at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium), receiving Man of the Match honors in the latter game. The following week, as Racing drew at home to Real Valladolid 1–1, he also found the net, and eventually finished his first full season with six goals and four assists to help his team narrowly avoid relegation.

Real Madrid

On 12 February 2010, Real Madrid announced:

‘’Real Madrid and Real Racing Club Santander have reached a deal for the transfer of player Sergio Canales Madrazo. The contract will take effect as of 1 July 2010 and will keep Canales at Real Madrid for the next six seasons‘’.

The fee was believed to be €4.5 million plus incentives.

On 4 August 2010 Canales made his debut for Real Madrid, scoring a goal in a 3–2 friendly win against Club América. His first league appearance came on 29 August, in a 0–0 draw against RCD Mallorca; he totalled 518 minutes of action in his first and only year with the club, which included three appearances in the victorious run in the Copa del Rey.

Valencia

On 4 August 2011, Valencia announced Canales would join the club on loan for two years after which the Che had the option of purchasing the player. The Merengues retained the right to reacquire the player during the two-year loan period.

Canales scored his first goal for his new side on 1 October, the game's only in a home fixture against Granada CF. Late into the month, he had to be stretchered off during a league home match against Athletic Bilbao and, the following day, he was diagnosed with a torn knee ligament, being sidelined for six months.

Early in the second half of Valencia's home match against Atlético Madrid in the Europa League semifinals' second leg on 26 April 2012, only his fifth appearance since returning, Canales reinjured himself. Valencia would lose the match 0–1 (2–5 aggregate defeat), and lose Canales as well for a further six months.

On 19 July 2012, Valencia signed Canales to a five-year deal worth €7.5 million, and also signed Madrid teammate Fernando Gago.

Real Sociedad

Canales was deemed surplus to requirements after the arrival of new Valencia coach Juan Antonio Pizzi, in December 2013. In late January of the following year, he signed for four-and-a-half-years and €3.5 million with fellow league side Real Sociedad.

Canales scored four goals in 36 appearances in his first full season, as the Txuriurdin finished in 12th position. On 30 December 2015, however, during the first half of an away match at former club Real Madrid, he suffered another serious knee injury, now in the left leg.

In 2008, Canales helped Spain's under-17 team win the UEFA European Championship in Turkey. At age 19 he made his under-21 debut, scoring twice in his first two games.

Subsequently, Canales was named in the squad for the 2009 European Under-19 Championship. The following year, in the same category, he represented the nation at the European Championships, reaching the final and scoring one goal in the semi-finals, a 3–1 win against Italy.

Canales was selected to the 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Colombia, playing in four out of five games for the national team (three starts) in an eventual penalty shootout quarterfinal exit. He featured regularly in the 2013 European Championship Under-21 qualification where he netted three times, including a brace against Georgia; despite missing the playoff game with Denmark he was named in the squad for the finals in Israel, but withdrew from the tournament after picking an injury in the first group match against Russia –Spain went on to win the trophy.

Canales' cousin, Borja Docal, is also a footballer.

As of 31 December 2015

Club

Real Madrid

• Copa del Rey: 2010–11

Country

Spain U21

• UEFA European Under-21 Championship: 2013

Spain U19

• UEFA European Under-19 Championship: Runner-up 2010

Spain U17

• UEFA European Under-17 Championship: 2008