Bio

Éder Fabián Álvarez Balanta (born 28 February 1993) is a Colombian professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Bundesliga club Schalke 04, on loan from Belgian First Division A side Club Brugge, and the Colombia national team. River Plate former coach Ramón Díaz has compared Álvarez Balanta's talents to that of 1970s legend Daniel Passarella. A Colombian international, he made his debut against Tunisia on 5 March 2014 and was later named in Colombia's squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Álvarez Balanta is described by FIFA's official website as "left-footed, powerfully built, strong in the air and a fearless tackler ... blessed with skill and speed."