Meu Pinto Grande

etis / Celta[edit]

Born in El Puerto de Santa María, Cádiz, Andalucía, Pinto, a product of Real Betis' youth system, moved up to the first team and made his La Liga debut for the club during the 1997–98 campaign (one game as a second-half substitute against Racing de Santander[2]).

Unable to dislodge Toni Prats at Betis, Pinto switched to Celta de Vigo a year later. He went on to win the Ricardo Zamora Trophy for the 2005–06 season after allowing just 29 goals in 37 matches, a goals per match ratio of 0.78. He was also eventually awarded the captain's armband, appearing in 125 games in the first division and 56 in the second as well as competing in the UEFA Champions League (in 2003–04, although backing up Pablo Cavallero in the domestic league, he would appear in five group stage matches, as Celta proggressed to the round-of-16 game) and in the UEFA Cup.[3]

Barcelona[edit]

Pinto signed on loan for FC Barcelona on 18 January 2008, with the player arriving as cover for the injured Albert Jorquera after the latter damaged knee ligaments during the festive break.[4] He made his debut on 26 April against Deportivo de La Coruña in a 0–2 away loss;[5] his second match also ended in defeat, as RCD Mallorca came up from behind 0–2 to win it 3–2 at the Camp Nou.[6]

On 30 May 2008 Barcelona signed Pinto on a permanent deal, for two years and €500,000.[7] During his first full season he was first-choice in the Copa del Rey, which Barcelona won, including the final against Athletic Bilbao.

Pinto warming up for Barcelona in February 2010

On 22 October 2010 UEFA opened a disciplinary case, charging Pinto with "improper conduct" following his actions in a Champions League group stage match against F.C. Copenhagen, two days earlier. Allegedly, he whistled to fool opponent player César Santin – who was running through on goal in the 26th minute – into thinking he was offside, leading him to stop, believing that the referee, Stéphane Lannoy, had blown his whistle; the referee allowed the play to continue and did not show Pinto a yellow card for the alleged deception.

Following the game, Copenhagen strongly distanced itself from Pinto's conduct.[8] The incident was captured on video, showing the goalkeeper apparently whistling and then gloating over the incident;[9] after the investigation was concluded, he was suspended for two games.[10]

On 20 February 2011 Pinto made his first league appearance for the Catalans in more than two years (due to a knee injury to Víctor Valdés), playing in a 2–1 home win against Athletic Bilbao and performing well, notably saving a Fernando Llorente header.[11] Again, he started in the domestic cup campaign, including the final against Real Madrid, a 0–1 extra-time loss;[12] the following week, against the same team, in the Champions League semifinals' first leg, he was sent off by referee Wolfgang Stark after a half-time altercation involving himself (he was on the bench), Álvaro Arbeloa and Real Madrid match delegate Chendo, in a 2–0 away win.[13]

In 2011–12 Pinto was once again the starting goalkeeper in the Spanish Cup campaign, with Barcelona again reaching the final.[14] His first league appearance only came on 29 April