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SEBASTIÁN WASHINGTON 'LOCO' ABREU GALLO
Date of Birth: 17 October, 1976
Nationality: Uruguay (international)
Period at Deportivo: 1997 (December) - 2004
Transfer: 1.125 mln ptas (ca. €7,2 million) (1997, San Lorenzo)
Clubs: América (2003-2004), Cruz Azul (2001-2003), Nacional Montevideo (2001), San Lorenzo (2000-2001), Tecos UAG (1999-2000), Gremio (1998), Deportivo (1997-2004), San Lorenzo, Defensor Sporting
Sold: Free Transfer (2004, to Nacional Montevideo)
Height: 192 cm
Weight: 80 kg
Position: Attacker (central)
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 Since signing in December 1997 at Deportivo, SEBASTIÁN ABREU has been switching clubs as much as he has changed hairstyles during his time he was under contract at the Galician club. Despite a quite successful start he never succeeded in La Coruña.
The tall striker impressed such at Argentinean club San Lorenzo, scoring 26 goals in 43 matches, that Deportivo president Lendoiro signed him in December 1997 to add firepower to struggling Deportivo. The Galician club had experienced an early UEFA Cup exit that season and were dangerously close to the relegation zone. Together with Uruguayan striker 'Manteca' Martínez this signing should deliver goals and permit Deportivo to climb up the Liga table.
Abreu made a dream start when he scored a late winner in Riazor against Sporting de Gijón (2-1) on 4 January 1998. He added a second goal ten days later in the Copa match at Osasuna (0-1) and that same month scored a great goal against Barcelona (3-1).
But despite this magnificent start the period at Deportivo would be a disappointing one for all parties involved. Abreu, like his partner 'Manteca' Martínez, proved not able to reach the level of the Primera División and would score just one other goal during the remaining part of the season. He had problems adapting to the way of playing in Europe and his discipline was questioned.
With the arrival that summer of Javier Irureta as coach of Deportivo the game of Abreu was over. The Basque coach always lets discipline prevail and that's just one of the things Abreu didn’t have at the time. He isn't called 'El Loco' for nothing and soon it was evident the club would have to search another destination for Abreu.
This was when his world journey started. Between 1998 and 2004 the Uruguayan international player didn't play another match for Deportivo and was loaned out to clubs from Brazil, Mexico, Argentina and Uruguay. He did impress in Central and South America and started scoring goals again. In this period Abreu proved to be tremendously dangerous when stepping on the rival area and using his powerful and accurate headings to finish most of the attacks.
 In Mexico he was topscorer of the competition twice (in 2000 and 2002), and his period at Cruz Azul proved to be especially successful. In Argentina he helped San Lorenzo to win the Clausura 2001 tournament. Although Irureta never indicated he wanted to have the striker back, Deportivo could not find a club capable of buying him. The player narrowly escaped death in December 2002 in a car accident when his car was completely crashed.
Abreu made his debut for the national team of Uruguay in July 1996 against China and was a starter when his country played the World Cup 2002 in Japan and Korea. He didn't score a single goal though during this tournament and again question marks surrounded his capabilities.
In the summer of 2004 the striker was given another opportunity at the club but again Irureta preferred others at his position. While his contract was running out in 2005 it was the last opportunity for Abreu to earn a place in the Deportivo squad. At the final day of August 2004 he and Deportivo went separate ways.
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