Diego Tardelli

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	1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Playing position	Striker Attacking midfielder
Club information
Current team	Shandong Luneng
Number	9
Youth career
2001–2003	União Barbarense
2003–2004	São Paulo
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2004–2007	São Paulo	90	(18)
2006	→ Betis (loan)	12	(0)
2006	→ São Caetano (loan)	7	(1)
2006–2007	→ PSV (loan)	13	(3)
2008	Flamengo	16	(0)
2009–2011	Atlético Mineiro	114	(73)
2011	Anzhi Makhachkala	13	(0)
2012	Al-Gharafa	24	(13)
2013–2014	Atlético Mineiro	50	(17)
2015–	Shandong Luneng	19	(6)
National team‡
2005	Brazil U20	2	(0)
2009–	Brazil	14	(3)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 21 October 2015. † Appearances (goals) ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 27 June 2015

Diego Tardelli Martins (born 10 May 1985), simply known as Diego Tardelli, is a Brazilian footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Shandong Luneng and a striker for Brazil national team. He is a dynamic player who can change the balance of a game with his speed on attack and individual skills.^[1] Despite having shown talent from an early age at SPFC, Tardelli found his best performance at Atlético Mineiro, where he moved to in 2009. Upon return, in 2013, he won the 2013 Copa Libertadores and surpassed 100 goals wearing Atlético's black and white jersey. Tardelli, however, is not his last name; it was a homage from his father to Italian World Cup winner Marco Tardelli.^[2]

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 Eindhoven (in 2006–07).

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 seriously injured himself on 3 August 2008, in a match against Cruzeiro. He fractured 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.^[3] 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.^[4]

Atlético Mineiro

Tardelli left Flamengo on 12 January 2009, and subsequently signed for fellow league team Atlético Mineiro.^[5]

Tardelli was linked with a move to French club AS Saint-Etienne, but Atlético Mineiro refused to let him go before the end of the 2009 season.^[6]

Anzhi Makhachkala

On 8 March 2011 Tardelli completed a move to Russian side Anzhi, following an in-depth medical examination at the Dagi's pre-season training base. The club reportedly paid €7.5 million for the 25-year-old striker on a four-year deal.^[7]

Tardelli started in only seven games during the whole campaign, and failed to found 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.^[8] His transfer fee is reported at €7 million.^[9]

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.^[10] 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.^[11]

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!").^[12] Tardelli rejoins to club on loan until 2014 FIFA World Cup. The value of negotiation is undisclosed.^[13]

On January, 27, Diego Tardelli confirmed the negotiations are almost over, only waiting for a new player to arrive at his current club and by January 31, the negotiation is complete and he joined Atlético Mineiro.^[14] 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 Diego Tardelli joined Chinese club Shandong Luneng.^[15] On 14 February 2015, he made his official debut in the 2015 Chinese FA Super Cup against Guangzhou Evergrande.

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.^[16]

In October 2013, in a great shape playing for Atlético-MG, 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."^[17]

On 11 October 2014, in the 2014 Superclásico de las Américas in Beijing, Tardelli scored both goals of a 2–0 victory against Argentina.^[18]

On 28 May 2015, Tardelli was included in Brazil's 23-man squad for the 2015 Copa América by coach Dunga.^[19]

International goals

Scores and results list Brazil's goal tally first.

Statistics

Career statistics

According to combined sources on the Flamengo official website,^[20] Flaestatística,^[21] Galo Digital and Futpédia.^[22]

(Correct as of 11/10/2014)

International statistics

As of 13 September 2009.^[23]