Juan Cuadrado facts for kids

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In this Spanish name, the first or paternal family name is Cuadrado and the second or maternal family name is Bello.

Quick facts for kids
Juan Cuadrado

Cuadrado with Juventus in 2019

Personal information

Full name

Juan Guillermo Cuadrado Bello

Date of birth

26 May 1988 (age 37)

Place of birth

Necoclí, Colombia

Height

1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)

Position(s)

Winger, right-back

Youth career

Atlético Urabá

2003–2008

Independiente Medellín

Senior career*

Years

Team

Apps

(Gls)

2008–2009

Independiente Medellín

(2)

2009–2012

Udinese

(0)

2011–2012

→ Lecce (loan)

(3)

2012–2015

Fiorentina

(20)

2015–2017

Chelsea

(0)

2015–2017

→ Juventus (loan)

(6)

2017–2023

Juventus

166

(14)

2023–2024

Inter Milan

(0)

2024–2025

Atalanta

(0)

International career^‡

2010–

Colombia

116

(11)

Medal record

Men's football

Representing Colombia
Copa América
Third	2016 United States
Third	2021 Brazil

*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 03:02, 26 May 2025 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 24 December 2023 (UTC)

Juan Guillermo Cuadrado Bello (born on May 26, 1988) is a professional footballer from Colombia. He plays for the Colombia national team. Juan usually plays on the right side of the field. He can be a winger, a full-back, or a wing-back. He is known for his speed, great dribbling skills, and direct way of playing.

Juan started his career in Colombia with Independiente Medellín. In 2009, he moved to Italy to play for Udinese. He later played for Lecce on loan. His good performances led him to Fiorentina. In 2015, he joined Chelsea in England. After playing a few games, he was loaned to Juventus in Italy. He won many titles there, including the Serie A and Coppa Italia. He joined Juventus permanently in 2017.

After eight successful years with Juventus, Juan joined Inter Milan in 2023. He later moved to Atalanta in 2024. Juan first played for the Colombian national team in 2010. He has played over 110 games for his country. He has been part of Colombia's teams in five Copa América tournaments and two FIFA World Cups. He helped Colombia finish third in the Copa América in 2016 and 2021.

Juan's Football Journey
Playing for Colombia
How Juan Plays Football
Juan's Life Off the Field
Career Statistics
- Club Appearances
- International Appearances
Awards and Achievements
See also

Juan's Football Journey

Starting Out in Colombia

Juan Cuadrado was born in Necoclí, Colombia. When he was 12, his mother suggested he try football. He joined a youth academy called Manchester F.C. Apartadó. His talent was quickly noticed. He later joined the youth team of Deportivo Cali.

Juan also played for Atlético Uraba. At first, he played as a forward. But his coach suggested he try playing as a midfielder, usually a winger. Juan became very good in this new role. He could also play as a full-back or wing-back sometimes. He then had a short time at a second-division club, Rionegro. Later, Independiente Medellín saw his potential and signed him.

Playing for Independiente Medellín

In 2008, Juan joined Independiente Medellín. This allowed him to play in Colombia's top league. He made his first professional appearance against Boyacá Chicó. In that game, he also scored his first goal. Juan stayed with Medellín until 2009. Then, he moved to Europe to continue his football career.

Moving to Italy: Udinese and Lecce

On July 2, 2009, Juan signed a five-year contract with Serie A club Udinese. He played his first game for Udinese as a right wing-back. However, he did not play much for the main team that season. So, he was sent on a loan to another Serie A team, Lecce.

In August 2011, Juan officially joined Lecce for the 2011–12 season. He scored his first goal for Lecce in a 1–0 win against Cesena. Even though Juan played well, Lecce finished 18th in the league. This meant they were relegated to Serie B. After the loan, he returned to Udinese.

Shining at Fiorentina

On July 23, 2012, Juan moved to Fiorentina. He first joined on a temporary deal. He scored his first goal for the Florence club in a 4–1 home win against Cagliari. He ended that season with five goals and six assists. He was a key player for Fiorentina, who finished fourth in Serie A. In June 2013, Fiorentina bought half of his player rights for €5 million.

In February 2014, Juan scored a goal in the Coppa Italia semi-final. This helped Fiorentina win against his old club Udinese and reach the final. He could not play in the final because he received a yellow card after scoring. Fiorentina lost the final to Napoli. In June 2014, Fiorentina bought Juan's full contract from Udinese.

Short Time at Chelsea

Cuadrado awaiting his debut for Chelsea at Villa Park on 7 February 2015

On February 2, 2015, Premier League club Chelsea announced they had signed Juan Cuadrado. He signed a four-and-a-half-year deal. Juan said he was very happy to join Chelsea. He felt it was like a dream. His former manager at Fiorentina, Vincenzo Montella, was also happy for him. Chelsea's manager, José Mourinho, said Juan would need time to get used to the Premier League.

Five days later, Juan made his Chelsea debut. He came on as a substitute in a 2–1 win against Aston Villa. On February 11, he started his first game at Stamford Bridge against Everton. He won his first trophy with Chelsea on March 1. They beat Tottenham Hotspur 2–0 in the League Cup final. Juan came on as a substitute in that match.

On May 3, Juan started his third game for Chelsea. Chelsea won their fifth league title with a 1–0 victory against Crystal Palace. In the last game of the season, he won a penalty kick. Chelsea won that game 3–1 against Sunderland.

Success at Juventus

Cuadrado playing for Juve against Crotone in 2017

On August 25, 2015, Juan joined Juventus on a one-season loan. He made his debut five days later. On October 31, he scored his first Juventus goal against Torino. This goal secured a 2–1 win in the Derby della Mole. In March 2016, Juan scored his first UEFA Champions League goal against Bayern Munich. On May 21, he helped Juventus win the 2016 Coppa Italia final against Milan. Juventus won 1–0 in extra time, securing their second straight domestic double.

Juan returned to Chelsea briefly in June 2016. But on August 31, he went back to Juventus on a three-year loan. He was given the number 7 shirt. On February 5, 2017, he scored the only goal in a 1–0 home win against Inter Milan.

On May 22, 2017, Juan officially joined Juventus permanently. This happened after a clause in his contract was met. In the 2017 UEFA Champions League Final against Real Madrid on June 3, Juan came on as a substitute. However, he was sent off after receiving two yellow cards. Juventus lost the match 4–1.

When Cristiano Ronaldo joined Juventus in 2018, Juan let Ronaldo wear the number 7 shirt. Juan changed his number back to 16. On September 21, 2019, Juan played his 100th Serie A game for Juventus. He won a penalty in that game, which Cristiano Ronaldo scored. During the 2019–20 season, Juan often played as an attacking right-back. In November, he extended his contract with Juventus until 2022.

On December 5, 2020, Juan assisted both goals in a 2–1 win against Torino. On May 15, 2021, he scored two goals in a 3–2 home win over Inter Milan. In the 2020–21 season, Juan was the top assist provider in the UEFA Champions League. On December 5, he scored a special goal directly from a corner kick in a 2–0 win against Genoa.

On June 30, 2023, Juan left Juventus after eight successful years.

Recent Clubs: Inter Milan and Atalanta

On July 19, 2023, Juan Cuadrado joined Inter Milan on a one-year deal. In December 2023, he had an Achilles tendon injury that required surgery.

On August 26, 2024, Juan joined another Serie A team, Atalanta, as a free agent. He signed a one-year contract.

Playing for Colombia

Cuadrado and Brazil's Neymar and Marcelo competing for the ball at the 2014 FIFA World Cup

After joining Udinese, Juan was called up to the Colombia national team. He started his first game against Venezuela on September 3, 2010. He scored the first goal in a 2–0 victory.

Juan was part of the Colombian team that reached the quarter-finals of the 2011 Copa América. He played in one game, a 2–0 win over Bolivia.

He was also in Colombia's team for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. In a group stage match against Japan, he scored a goal from a penalty kick. Colombia won 4–1. Juan finished the World Cup with four assists, tying for the most in the tournament.

Juan played in every minute of Colombia's games in the 2015 Copa América. They reached the quarter-finals but lost to Argentina in a penalty shootout.

In the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Juan played all four games for Colombia. They reached the round of 16 but lost to England on penalties. He scored one goal in the tournament, in a 3–0 win against Poland.

Juan was also in the squad for the 2019 Copa América and the 2021 Copa América. In June 2021, he assisted a goal in a game against Brazil. On July 7, he played his 100th game for Colombia. He became the fifth Colombian player to reach this milestone. On July 9, he scored a goal from a free kick in a 3–2 win over Peru. This secured third place for Colombia in the tournament.

How Juan Plays Football

Cuadrado taking on Douglas Santos, in a UEFA Champions League match between Juventus and Zenit Saint Petersburg

Juan Cuadrado is known for his attacking style of play on the right side of the field. He can score goals from far away and create chances for his teammates. He often uses his speed, skill, and dribbling to get past opponents. This helps him create space to shoot or send crosses into the penalty area. Because of his style, he is seen as one of the few "traditional" wide midfielders in football today.

Experts say that Juan's speed, quickness, and creativity helped Colombia move forward in the 2014 World Cup. Besides playing on the wing, he is also good as an attacking right-back or wing-back. This is because he has a lot of energy and works hard. He has played in these positions for Juventus. Juan is a very flexible player. He can also play on the left side, which lets him cut inside and shoot with his stronger right foot. Earlier in his career, he even played as a central or defensive midfielder. Sometimes, he played as a forward or striker.

Even with all his talent, some people have criticized Juan's decision-making. They also say he can be inconsistent and sometimes plays too much by himself.

Juan's Life Off the Field

Juan Cuadrado was born in Necoclí. His father was shot when Juan was five years old. His mother, Marcela Bello Guerrero, raised him. She worked at a banana company to support them. She told Juan he had to be a perfect student to be able to play football. Juan is a very religious Christian.

Juan was featured on the Latin American cover of the video game FIFA 16. He appeared alongside the famous player Lionel Messi.

Career Statistics

Cuadrado playing for Chelsea in 2015

Club Appearances

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club	Season	League			National cup		League cup		Continental		Other		Total
Club	Season	Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Independiente Medellín	2008	Categoría Primera A	21	2	—		—		—		—		21	2
	2009	Categoría Primera A	9	0	—		—		2	0	—		11	0
	Total		30	2	—		—		2	0	—		32	2
Udinese	2009–10	Serie A	11	0	1	0	—		—		—		12	0
	2010–11	Serie A	9	0	3	0	—		—		—		12	0
	Total		20	0	4	0	—		—		—		24	0
Lecce (loan)	2011–12	Serie A	33	3	0	0	—		—		—		33	3
Fiorentina	2012–13	Serie A	36	5	4	0	—		—		—		40	5
	2013–14	Serie A	32	11	3	1	—		8	3	—		43	15
	2014–15	Serie A	17	4	1	1	—		5	1	—		23	6
	Total		85	20	8	2	—		13	4	—		106	26
Chelsea	2014–15	Premier League	12	0	—		1	0	1	0	—		14	0
	2015–16	Premier League	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	—		1	0
	Total		13	0	0	0	1	0	1	0	—		15	0
Juventus (loan)	2015–16	Serie A	28	4	4	0	—		8	1	—		40	5
Juventus (loan)	2016–17	Serie A	30	2	3	0	—		12	1	0	0	45	3
Juventus	2017–18	Serie A	21	4	1	0	—		6	1	1	0	29	5
	2018–19	Serie A	18	1	0	0	—		5	0	0	0	23	1
	2019–20	Serie A	33	2	5	0	—		6	1	1	0	45	3
	2020–21	Serie A	30	2	3	0	—		6	0	1	0	40	2
	2021–22	Serie A	33	4	5	1	—		7	0	0	0	45	5
	2022–23	Serie A	31	1	2	1	—		14	0	—		47	2
	Total		224	20	23	2	—		64	4	3	0	314	26
Inter Milan	2023–24	Serie A	10	0	0	0	—		2	0	0	0	12	0
Atalanta	2024–25	Serie A	23	0	1	0	—		8	0	0	0	32	0
Career total			438	45	36	4	1	0	90	8	3	0	568	57

International Appearances

Cuadrado with Colombia at the 2018 FIFA World Cup

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Colombia	2010	4	1
	2011	4	0
	2012	7	2
	2013	11	0
	2014	11	2
	2015	9	0
	2016	14	1
	2017	8	1
	2018	9	1
	2019	12	0
	2020	4	0
	2021	15	2
	2022	5	0
	2023	3	1
Total		116	11

Colombia score listed first, score column indicates score after each Cuadrado goal.

International goals by date, venue, opponent, score, result and competition
No.	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	3 September 2010	Estadio José Antonio Anzoátegui, Puerto la Cruz, Venezuela	Venezuela	1–0	2–0	Friendly
2	29 February 2012	Sun Life Stadium, Miami Gardens, United States	Mexico	2–0	2–0	Friendly
3	14 November 2012	MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, United States	Brazil	1–0	1–1	Friendly
4	6 June 2014	Estadio Pedro Bidegain, Buenos Aires, Argentina	Jordan	2–0	3–0	Friendly
5	24 June 2014	Arena Pantanal, Cuiabá, Brazil	Japan	1–0	4–1	2014 FIFA World Cup
6	29 May 2016	Marlins Park, Miami, United States	Haiti	2–1	3–1	Friendly
7	28 March 2017	Estadio Olímpico Atahualpa, Quito, Ecuador	Ecuador	2–0	2–0	2018 FIFA World Cup qualification
8	24 June 2018	Kazan Arena, Kazan, Russia	Poland	3–0	3–0	2018 FIFA World Cup
9	9 July 2021	Estádio Nacional Mané Garrincha, Brasília, Brazil	Peru	1–1	3–2	2021 Copa América
10	5 September 2021	Estadio Defensores del Chaco, Asunción, Paraguay	Paraguay	1–1	1–1	2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
11	20 June 2023	Arena AufSchalke, Gelsenkirchen, Germany	Germany	2–0	2–0	Friendly