Urguayan Sebastian Abreu sets Guinness World Record by completing 28th transfer


LOYALTY is in short supply in modern football.

And that has never been more evident than in the case of Sebastian Abreu.

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Argentine River Plate's forward Sebastian Abreu (front) celebrates next to teammate midfielder Diego Buonanotte after scoring their team's second goal against Chile's Universidad Catolica during their Libertadores Cup 2008 second stage football match at Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires on March 26, 2008. River PLate won 2-0. AFP PHOTO / MAXI FAILLA (Photo credit should read Maxi Failla/AFP/Getty Images)
Sebsaten Abreu won the title during his time at River Plate back in 2008
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The 40-year-old Uruguayan has completed a transfer for the 28th time of his incredible career — which is a Guinness World Record.


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Brazilian third tier side, Bangu, will be the 23rd different professional side he has turned out for.

MONTEVIDEO, URUGUAY - NOVEMBER 18: Sebastian Abreu of Uruguay celebrates his goal during the 2010 FIFA World Cup Play Off Second Leg Match between Uruguay and Costa Rica at The Estadio Centenario on November 18, 2009 in Montevideo, Uruguay. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
Sebastien Abreu scores in the 2010 World Cup qualifying play-off
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Uruguay's Sebastian Abreu celebrates after scoring the winning goal in a penalty shootout with Ghana during a 2010 World Cup quarter-final soccer match at Soccer City stadium in Johannesburg July 2, 2010. REUTERS/Henry Romero (SOUTH AFRICA - Tags: SPORT SOCCER WORLD CUP)
Sebastian Abreu sends Uruguay to World Cup semi-finals with penalty
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The record was previously held by German goalkeeper, Lutz Pfannenstiel, who turned out for 25 different clubs.

Bangu are the third different side Abreu will have played for in 2016 alone.

You could say he is loyal to the game.

The striker started his career a Defensor in 1995, and is still playing today.

The German goalkeeper of the Canadian Whitecaps FC, Lutz Pfannenstiel
German goalkeeper Lutz Pfannenstiel turned out for 25 different clubs
DPA/Press Association Images

His transfers have taken him to nine different countries: Uruguay, Argentina, Mexico, Spain, El Salvador, Brazil, Paraguay, Israel and Greece.

Abreu first moved to Europe from in 1998, when he signed for Deportivo from San Lorenzo for £4.25million — the only time he would.

Despite being contracted to the Galician side for five seasons, he was sent on loan no less than seven times — and made just 15 appearances in La Liga.

Uruguayan footballer Sebastian "Loco" Abreu (C-L) is welcomed by Brazilian former national team player and coach Zagalo (C-R) during his presentation as new player of Botafogo, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, January 6, 2010. AFP PHOTO/Satiro Sodre/AGIF-- BRAZIL OUT (Photo credit should read Satiro Sodre/AFP/Getty Images)
Sebastian “Loco” Abreu is welcomed by Botafogo fans after transfer in 2010
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His highlight would no doubt have been scoring the second goal in the 3-1 victory over Barcelona just weeks after joining.

In one of his loan spells, he returned to San Lorenzo and won the title — his first major honour.

Just a month after returning to La Coruna, he moved back to his homeland on loan at Nacional, and won another league championship.

THESSALONIKI, GREECE - OCTOBER 25: Sebastian Washington Gallo Abreu of Aris Salonika during the Super League match between Aris Salonika and AEK Athens held on October 25, 2009 at the Kleanthis Vikelidis Stadium, in Thessaloniki, Greece. (Photo by Sakis Mitrolidis/EuroFootball/Getty Images)
Sebastian Abreu during a breif spell with Aris Thessaloniki in Greece in 2009
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BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA - JULY 24: Loco Abreu of Uruguay celebrates title during the Copa America 2011 final match between Uruguay and Paraguay at Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti Stadium on July 24, 2011 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. (Photo by Buda Mendes/LatinContent/Getty Images)
Sebastien Abreu holds aloft Copa America trophy after victory in 2011
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MEXICO CITY, MEXICO: Soccer player Sebastian "Loco" Abreu celebrates a goal in Mexico City 21 november 2002. AFP PHOTO/Alfredo ESTRELLA (Photo credit should read ALFREDO ESTRELLA/AFP/Getty Images)
Sebastian “Loco” Abreu after scoring a goal for Cruz Azul in Mexico in 2002
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ROSARIO, ARGENTINA - OCTOBER 20: Sebastian Abreu of Rosario Central fights for the ball with Victor Lopez of Newell's Old Boys during a match between Rosario Central and Newell's Old Boys as part of the 12th round of Torneo Inicial 2013 at Gigante de Arroyito Stadium on October 20, 2013 in Rosario, Argentina. (Photo by Gabriel Rossi/LatinContent/Getty Images)
Sebastian Abreu also spent time in Argentina with Rosario Central back in 2013
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Three years later, he joined the Montevideo side on a permanent deal and won a further three honours.

He also won the Argentinian title during his time with River Plate in 2008 and the Rio de Janeiro championship with Botafogo.

Abreu has enjoyed a fruitful international career, earning 70 caps and appearing in no less than five major tournaments.

He was part of Uruguay’s 2011 Copa America squad and scored the decisive Panenka-style penalty to reach the semi-finals at Ghana’s expense.

On May 27, 2010, he was just five off becoming his country’s all-time top goal scorer — but has since been overtaken by Luis Suarez, Diego Forlan and Edinson Cavani.


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