he started playing football in the youthteams of ca lanús und ca tiro federal. zarate played his first professional matches in the second league of argentina for pcc san josé. 2007 he went to switzerland playing for sc kriens (second league), scoring five goals in five matches. then he went on loan to grasshopper-club zürich, after the loan the bought him . he scored 14 goals and was the most successful scorer in the team. in may 2010 he signed with fc red bull salzburg in the austrian bundesliga. in his first year he played till now 25 matches and scored three goals and gave one assist.