Diego Tardelli

Diego Tardelli Martins (born 10 May 1985), known as simply Diego Tardelli, is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Atlético Mineiro. He is considered a dynamic player due to his speed on attack and individual skills.[1] Tardelli is not his last name, but his second name: it was chosen by his father after his footballing idol, Italian World Cup winner Marco Tardelli.[2]

Diego Tardelli
Tardelli with Anzhi Makhachkala in 2011
Personal information
Full name Diego Tardelli Martins
Date of birth (1985-05-10) 10 May 1985
Place of birth Santa Bárbara d'Oeste, Brazil
Height 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Forward, attacking midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Atlético Mineiro
Number 9
Youth career
2001–2003 União Barbarense
2003–2004 São Paulo
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004–2007 São Paulo 111 (31)
2006 → Betis (loan) 12 (0)
2006 → São Caetano (loan) 7 (1)
2006–2007 → PSV (loan) 13 (3)
2008 Flamengo 29 (5)
2009–2011 Atlético Mineiro 91 (55)
2011 Anzhi Makhachkala 13 (0)
2012 Al-Gharafa 24 (13)
2013–2014 Atlético Mineiro 68 (28)
2015–2018 Shandong Luneng 73 (41)
2019 Grêmio 35 (5)
2020– Atlético Mineiro 2 (0)
National team
2005 Brazil U20 2 (0)
2009–2017 Brazil 14 (3)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 3 February 2021

Club career

Early career

Born in Santa Bárbara d'Oeste, São Paulo, Tardelli was a product of São Paulo's youth system. He had abroad loan stints with La Liga's Real Betis (in the latter part of 2005–06) and Eredivisie club PSV in 2006–07. In starting of his career, Tardelli was known as Dinei, a former forward of Corinthians, because Tardelli also painted his hair of a blond color.[3]

Flamengo

Tardelli joined Flamengo in January 2008, and scored the winning goal in the Taça Guanabara final against Botafogo. Once again, in the final of Rio de Janeiro State League 2008 against Botafogo, he entered in the second half and he changed the game. He scored a goal and made an assist to Obina.

Tardelli incurred a serious injury on 3 August 2008 in a match against Cruzeiro, fracturing his right arm after falling awkwardly. A surgery has been necessary, and the Flamengo's medical staff indicated that he would be out of playing until the end of 2008.

After recovering faster than expected, exactly four months after breaking his arm, on 23 November 2008.[4] Tardelli returned to the field in the second half of the match against Cruzeiro, but this time away from Rio de Janeiro. He was sent off in the last minute after arguing with referee Carlos Eugênio Simon about a polemic play he claimed a penalty.[5]

Atlético Mineiro

Tardelli left Flamengo on 12 January 2009, and subsequently signed for fellow league team Atlético Mineiro.[6]

Tardelli was linked with a move to French club Saint-Étienne, but Atlético Mineiro refused to let him go before the end of the 2009 season.[7]

Anzhi Makhachkala

On 8 March 2011, Tardelli completed a move to Russian side Anzhi Makhachkala following an in-depth medical examination at the Dagi's pre-season training base. The club reportedly paid €7.5 million for his services on a four-year deal.[8]

Tardelli started in only seven games during the whole campaign, and failed to find the net in his 13 appearances. He was also strongly linked with a move back to his homeland after struggling to adapt to life in Russia.

Al-Gharafa

On 10 January 2012, Tardelli announced that he had put pen to paper on a two-and-a-half-year deal with Qatari side Al-Gharafa.[9] His transfer fee is reported at €7 million.[10]

He made his debut on 20 January 2012, missing a penalty kick 30 minutes after coming on as a substitute in a 2–0 loss against Al Khor.[11] On his second-ever AFC Champions League match, he scored a brace in order to salvage a draw against Al-Hilal FC on 21 March.[12]

Return to Atlético Mineiro

On 18 January 2013, his mother Ivânia, through Twitter, announced Tardelli's comeback to Atlético Mineiro. Her words were, "Muito Feliz! Meu filho está de volta ao Galo. Obrigado, Senhor!" ("I'm very happy! My son is coming back to Galo. Thanks, Lord!").[13] Tardelli rejoined the club on loan until the 2014 FIFA World Cup. The value of the negotiation was undisclosed.[14] On 27 January, Tardelli confirmed the negotiations were nearly over, only waiting for a new player to arrive at his current club and by 31 January, the negotiation is complete and he joined Atlético Mineiro.[15] Finally, on 2 February 2013, Alexandre Kalil, president of Atlético, announced the return of Tardelli. The deal is around €5.25 million with a four-year contract.

Shandong Luneng

On 17 January 2015, Tardelli joined Chinese club Shandong Luneng.[16] On 14 February 2015, he made his official debut in the 2015 Chinese FA Super Cup against Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao. On 13 July 2015, he scored two goals in a match against Shijiazhuang Ever Bright.

Grêmio

On 12 February 2019, Tardelli joined Brazilian club Grêmio on a 3-year contract.

Second return to Atlético Mineiro

On 12 February 2020, Tardelli joined Atlético Mineiro for the third time on a free transfer.

International career

Tardelli was called up by Brazilian coach Dunga on 28 July 2009 for a friendly match against Estonia in Tallinn on 12 August. This was his first ever call up to the Brazil national team. On 11 May 2010, he was called up to the 2010 FIFA World Cup squad as one of the seven backup players.[17]

In October 2013, in a great shape playing for Atlético Mineiro, Tardelli said on being left out from manager Luiz Felipe Scolari international squad, "Now, again, football professionals have asked my calling up. I did not give up yet, I keep working, who knows about Brazilian team is Felipão [Scolari] or who is inside there can watch my phase."[18]

On 11 October 2014, in the 2014 Superclásico de las Américas in Beijing, Tardelli scored both goals of a 2–0 victory against Argentina.[19]

On 28 May 2015, Tardelli was included in Brazil's 23-man squad for the 2015 Copa América by coach Dunga.[20]

On 15 October 2017, Tardelli was called by manager Tite to games against Bolívia and Chile.

Career statistics

Club
As of 3 February 2021.[21]
Club Season League National Cup Continental Other Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
São Paulo 2003 229—63—2912
2004 297—5041388
2005 191—10417124617
2007 201—50—251
Total 9018—267211313738
Real Betis (loan) 2006 1202031—171
Total 1202031—171
São Caetano (loan) 2006 71———71
Total 71———71
PSV Eindhoven (loan) 2006 133—50—183
Total 133—50—183
Flamengo 2008 160—61135356
Total 160—61135356
Atlético Mineiro 2009 331954—16165642
2010 271067201474324
2011 00——1313
Total 6029111120312610469
Anzhi Makhachkala 2011–12 13010——140
Total 13010——140
Al-Gharafa 2011–12 104—52—156
2012–13 149———149
Total 2413—52—2915
Atlético Mineiro 2013 2612101571045223
2014 231071102924915
Total 49228125919610138
Shandong Luneng 2015 1965050—296
2016 123—96—219
2017 181511——1916
2018 241753——2920
Total 7341114146—9851
Grêmio 2019 2942110161477
Total 2942110161477
Atlético Mineiro 2020–21 1000—1020
Total 1000001020
Career total 387131351796279151609226

    International
    As of 13 September 2015[22]
    This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.