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)
2022–2023 → Lommel (loan) 26 (4)
2023– → Sparta Rotterdam (loan) 36 (1)
2023– → Jong Sparta Rotterdam (loan) 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16:27, 15 December 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

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

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

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

As of match played 18 December 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 12 0 2 0 — 0 0 14 0
Total 36 1 4 0 — 1 0 41 1
Career total 70 6 5 0 0 0 2 0 77 6
  1. ^ Appearance in Campeonato Carioca
  2. ^ Appearance in European play-offs

References

  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