Metinho

Metinho
Personal information
Full name Abemly Meto Silu
Date of birth (2003-04-23) 23 April 2003 (age 21)
Place of birth Matadi, DR Congo
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
Sparta Rotterdam (on loan from Troyes)
Number 14
Youth career
2014 Madureira
2015–2021 Fluminense
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2021 Fluminense 1 (0)
2021– Troyes B 8 (1)
2022–2023Lommel (loan) 26 (4)
2023–Sparta Rotterdam (loan) 33 (2)
2023–Jong Sparta Rotterdam (loan) 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 18:28, 19 October 2024 (UTC)

Abemly Meto Silu (born 23 April 2003), known as Metinho, is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Dutch Eredivisie club Sparta Rotterdam, on loan from Ligue 2 club Troyes. Born in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, he holds both Congolese and Brazilian citizenship.

Early life

[edit]

Metinho was born in Matadi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, but moved to Brazil aged one, after his father, Abel, fled the country following religious persecution.[1][2] After settling in the Cinco Bocas favela in Brás de Pina, a neighbourhood in Rio de Janeiro, Abel came up with the name "Metinho" for his son, taking the diminutive form of his real name, Meto - a common tradition in Brazil.[3]

Club career

[edit]

Metinho progressed through the youth sides of Madureira before going on trial with Vasco da Gama. He was offered a contract, but changed his mind before finalising the deal, determined that he would wait for Fluminense to make an offer.[3] He joined the Tricolor, and moved from the favela into a house owned by then-teammate João Pedro.[3] Metinho would go on to captain the under-17 team of Fluminense and play for the club's under-20 side.[2][4] In 2020, he was included in The Guardian's "Next Generation 2020".[5][6] In March 2021, Metinho made his professional debut, coming on as a substitute for Rafael Ribeiro in a 3–0 loss to Portuguesa-RJ.[citation needed]

On 15 June 2021, Fluminense confirmed that Metinho had been released by the club in order to "introduce himself to his new club in Europe".[7] On 23 July, this was confirmed to be Ligue 1 side Troyes, with which he signed a five-year contract for a reported fee of €5 million plus bonuses.[8] On 2 July 2022, Metinho moved to Belgian club Lommel on loan for the 2022–23 season.[9]

On 31 August 2023, Metinho joined Sparta Rotterdam in the Netherlands on loan.[10] The loan was extended for the 2024–25 season.[11]

International career

[edit]

Metinho became a naturalized Brazilian citizen in 2019.[12][13] In November 2020, despite not having represented Brazil at any youth level, Metinho was called up to train with the senior squad, alongside teammate Luiz Henrique.[2][14][15] He remains eligible to represent the country of his birth, the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Career statistics

[edit]
As of match played 19 October 2024[16]
Club Season League Cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Fluminense 2021 Série A 0 0 0 0 0 0 1[a] 0 1 0
Troyes B 2021–22 Championnat National 3 8 1 8 1
Lommel (loan) 2022–23 Challenger Pro League 26 4 1 0 0 0 27 4
Jong Sparta Rotterdam (loan) 2023–24 Tweede Divisie 1 0 1 0
Sparta Rotterdam (loan) 2023–24 Eredivisie 24 1 2 0 1[b] 0 27 1
2024–25 Eredivisie 8 0 0 0 0 0 8 0
Total 32 1 2 0 1 0 35 1
Career total 66 6 3 0 0 0 2 0 71 6
  1. ^ Appearance in Campeonato Carioca
  2. ^ Appearance in European play-offs

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Nascido no Congo, Metinho alimenta sonho de servir à Seleção: 'Brasil me proporcionou muita coisa'" [Born in Congo, Metinho has a dream of serving the Seleção: 'Brazil has given me a lot']. cbf.com.br (in Portuguese). 12 November 2020. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  2. ^ a b c "Metinho revela emoção do pai e de parentes no Congo por período com seleção brasileira: "Chegaram a chorar"" [Metinho reveals emotion of his father and relatives in Congo due to period with the Brazil national team: "They came to cry"]. globoesporte.globo.com (in Portuguese). 12 November 2020. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  3. ^ a b c "Conexão Congo-Xerém: a história e superação de Metinho Silu para brilhar na base do Fluminense" [Congo-Xerém connection: the history and overcoming of Metinho Silu to shine at Fluminense's youth setup]. globoesporte.globo.com (in Portuguese). 27 October 2019. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  4. ^ "Com Arthur em foco e Metinho de capitão, Fluminense Sub-17 estreia nova geração de ouro no Brasileiro" [With Arthur in focus and Metinho as captain, Fluminense U-17 debut new generation of gold in the Brasileiro]. globoesporte.globo.com (in Portuguese). 10 October 2020. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  5. ^ "Next Generation 2020: 60 of the best young talents in world football". The Guardian. 8 October 2020. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  6. ^ "Metinho celebra presença entre os melhores Sub-17 do mundo: 'É fruto de muito trabalho e dedicação'" [Metinho celebrates presence among the best U-17 in the world: 'It is the result of hard work and dedication']. lance.com.br (in Portuguese). 9 October 2020. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  7. ^ "Fluminense confirm Man City to sign Brazilian teenager Metinho". Manchester Evening News. 15 June 2021. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
  8. ^ "Metinho officiellement Troyen !". ES Troyes AC (in French). 23 July 2021. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  9. ^ "Metinho tekent bij Lommel SK" (in Dutch). Lommel. 2 July 2022. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
  10. ^ "SPARTA HUURT METINHO VAN TROYES" [SPARTA LOANS METINHO FROM TROYES] (in Dutch). Sparta Rotterdam. 31 August 2023. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  11. ^ "SPARTA HUURT METINHO OOK VOLGEND SEIZOEN VAN TROYES" [SPARTA WILL ALSO LOAN METINHO FROM TROYES NEXT SEASON] (in Dutch). Sparta Rotterdam. 24 June 2024. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
  12. ^ "Conheça Metinho Silu, a promessa da categoria sub-15 do Flu que nasceu no Congo" [Meet Metinho Silu, the prospect of Flu's under-15 category who was born in Congo]. globoesporte.globo.com (in Portuguese). 24 October 2020. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  13. ^ "Quem é Metinho, nascido no Congo que treinou com a seleção brasileira?" [Who is Metinho, born in Congo who trained with the Brazil national team?]. goal.com (in Portuguese). 12 November 2020. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  14. ^ "Dificuldades no Brasil e emoção da família: Metinho exalta experiência na Seleção" [Difficulties in Brazil and family emotion: Metinho praises experience in the Seleção]. lance.com.br (in Portuguese). 12 November 2020. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  15. ^ "Na primeira vez com a seleção, Metinho é alvo de matéria especial da CBF – joia tricolor esteve na concentração na preparação da seleção principal" [In the first time with the Seleção, Metinho is the target of special article from CBF - tricolor's pearl was in the concentration in the preparation of the full side]. onefootball.com (in Portuguese). 12 November 2020. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  16. ^ Metinho at Soccerway