Wálter Adrián Samuel (born Wálter Adrián Luján; 23 March 1978) is an Argentine footballer who currently plays for Italian Serie A club Internazionale. He also holds a Spanish passport.[1] Throughout his career he has been regarded as one of football's toughest defenders, with team-mate and Inter captain Javier Zanetti referring to him as the "hardest player" he has played with.

Having been gifted with natural power and pace, Samuel's game has developed and at Inter a new level of maturity has been evident. He played a key role in Inter's treble success under Mourinho and is a regular fixture in the Argentinian national side. His strong, uncompromising style of play has earnt him the nickname "The Wall".

Club career

Samuel started playing professionally in 1996 in Argentina for Newell's Old Boys, and a year later moved to Boca Juniors where he stayed until 2000. In that year, Roma bought his contract for 40.265 billion Italian lire (about €20M).[2][3] He gained fame as one of the best defenders in the Italian league and gained a nickname to match. His quality attracted interest from Spanish team Real Madrid.

Real paid €25 million for his transfer in 2004.[4] But Samuel played relatively poorly that season, not being the leader at the back that Real so desperately craved. In August 2005, he returned to the Italian League with a transfer to Internazionale on a four year contract for reported €16 million. [5]

In the Milan Derby on 23 December 2007, he hurt himself whilst marking the Brazilian international Kaká, and a couple weeks later, he had reconstructive surgery on his medial collateral ligament. He was expected to be out until the end of the 2007–08 season. In actuality, he started training with the first team again in October of the 2008–09 season, and promptly earned a first team place back under Mourinho. Since the signing of Lúcio, he has partnered him at the heart of Inter's defence. He was a regular starter under Mourinho's management before the coach departed the club at and looks set to play an important role yet again under new manager Rafael Benitez.

International career

Samuel has played 55 matches for Argentina, scoring five goals. He played for his country in the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Korea/Japan, but after a series of injuries that affected his play he lost his place. Years later, due to the solid performances and becoming a regular starter in Internazionale, he earned his place back in the Argentina National Team, with Diego Maradona choosing him to be a starter also for the Argentine defence in the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.