Alex Meret

Alex Meret Cavaliere OMRI (Italian pronunciation: [ˈaːleks meˈrɛt]; born 22 March 1997) is an Italian professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Serie A club Napoli and the Italy national team.

Alex Meret
Meret in 2017
Personal information
Full name Alex Meret[1]
Date of birth (1997-03-22) 22 March 1997
Place of birth Udine, Italy[2]
Height 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)[3]
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
 Napoli
Number 1
Youth career
2007–2012 Donatello Calcio[4]
2012–2015 Udinese
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2018 Udinese 0 (0)
2016–2017 → SPAL (loan) 30 (0)
2017–2018 → SPAL (loan) 13 (0)
2018– Napoli 101 (0)
International career‡
2012–2013 Italy U16 4 (0)
2013–2014 Italy U17 13 (0)
2014 Italy U18 2 (0)
2014–2016 Italy U19 19 (0)
2018–2019 Italy U21 5 (0)
2019– Italy 3 (0)
Medal record
Men's Football
Representing  Italy
UEFA European Championship
Winner2020 Europe
UEFA Nations League
Third place2021 Italy
Third place2023 Netherlands
CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions
Runner-up2022 England
UEFA European Under-19 Championship
Runner-up2016 Germany
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 2 September 2023 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 16 November 2022

Born in Udine, Meret began his career at an early age with amateur club Donatello Calcio before making a switch to the famous Udinese youth system in 2012. After rising through the academy system at the club, he made his senior debut in 2015. He later had spells on loan with SPAL, whom he helped win the Serie B title in 2017, and achieve promotion to Serie A. He joined Napoli in 2018, winning a league title in 2023.

At international level, Meret has represented Italy at U16, U17, U18, U19 and U21 levels, and made his senior debut for Italy in 2019, also representing the nation at their victorious UEFA Euro 2020 campaign.

Club career

Udinese

An Udinese youth product, Meret was promoted to the first team as second-choice goalkeeper behind Orestis Karnezis during the 2015–16 season. He made his senior professional debut on 2 December 2015 in the Coppa Italia against Atalanta.[5]

In July 2016, Meret was sent on loan to Serie B club SPAL.[6] He returned to SPAL on loan for the 2017–18 season.[7]

Napoli

On 5 July 2018, Meret signed with Napoli until 30 June 2023. The transfer fee agreed with Udinese was reported as €35 million.[8][9] He made his European debut on 14 February 2019, in a 3–1 away win over FC Zürich in the first leg of the round of 32 of the Europa League.[10][11]

He was initially often used in a rotational role along with David Ospina during his first two seasons with Napoli; however, under the club's new manager Gennaro Gattuso, he was relegated to the bench up until the season break due to the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, as the coach favoured the Colombian shot-stopper due to his superior ability with the ball at his feet.[12][13] Due to a suspension to Ospina, however, Meret started in the 2020 Coppa Italia Final against Juventus on 17 June; following a goalless draw after regulation time, Meret saved Paulo Dybala's spot kick, helping his team earn a 4–2 penalty shoot-out victory.[14] Subsequently, Meret ended up in the rotation with Ospina again, starting every second match on average until the end of the season. This rotational role was maintained in the following 2020–21 season, with Ospina and Meret taking turns every other match in the Europa League, Serie A and Coppa Italia.[15]

International career

Meret was a crucial member in the Italy U19 national team which took part in the 2016 UEFA European Under-19 Championship, finishing as runner-up after losing in the final; he was named in the team of the tournament alongside Kylian Mbappé of France.[16][17]

In March 2017, following impressive performances for SPAL in Serie B, he was called up to the Italy national team squad for the World Cup qualification for a match against Albania and a friendly against the Netherlands.[18]

On 22 March 2018, he made his debut with the Italy U21, playing as starter in a friendly match against Norway.[19]

He took part in the 2019 UEFA European Under-21 Championship under manager Luigi Di Biagio,[20] as the team's first-choice goalkeeper.

Meret made his international debut for the senior national team under manager Roberto Mancini, on 18 November 2019, coming on as a substitute for Salvatore Sirigu in a 9–1 home win over Armenia, in Italy's final Euro 2020 qualifier.[21]

In June 2021, he was included in Italy's squad for UEFA Euro 2020.[22] On 11 July, Meret won the European Championship with Italy following a 3–2 penalty shoot-out victory over England at Wembley Stadium in the final, after a 1–1 draw in extra-time.[23] He was the only squad member not to make an appearance in the competition.[24]

Style of play

Considered once to be a talented and highly promising young goalkeeper in the Italian media,[25] Meret is an agile goalkeeper, who possesses good reactions and shot-stopping abilities, despite his height and imposing physique, and who is known for his handling and ability to rush off his line. He has also drawn praise in the media for his decision–making, maturity, and calm composure under pressure, as well as his discipline and work ethic, despite his youth; moreover, he is capable of organising his defence effectively and is known for his penalty–stopping abilities. Although he is competent with his feet, his distribution has been cited as an area in need of improvement.[25][26][27][28][29] He has also struggled with physical problems and injuries throughout his career.[12]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 27 September 2023[30][31]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Udinese 2015–16 Serie A 0020——20
SPAL (loan) 2016–17 Serie B 30020——320
2017–18 Serie A 13000——130
Total 430200000450
Napoli 2018–19 Serie A 1401060—210
2019–20 2201060—290
2020–21 220105000280
2021–22 701070—150
2022–23 34010100—450
2023–24 6000100070
Total 105050350001450
Career total 148090350001920

International
As of match played 16 November 2022[31]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Italy 201910
202000
202110
202210
Total30

Honours

SPAL[32]

Napoli[31]

Italy U19

Italy

Individual

Orders

References
  1. "Comunicato Ufficiale N. 175" [Official Press Release No. 175] (PDF) (in Italian). Lega Serie A. 5 March 2019. p. 3. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 May 2021. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  2. "La Juventus segue da vicino Alex Meret: sarà lui l'erede di Buffon?" (in Italian). Eurosport. 5 November 2016. Retrieved 10 March 2017.
  3. "Player summary: Alex Meret". WorldFootball.net. Retrieved 10 March 2017.
  4. "Alex Meret(In Italian)". calcionapoli24. Retrieved 6 March 2017.
  5. "Udinese vs. Atalanta - 2 December 2015 - Soccerway". soccerway.com. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  6. Stefano Manfredini (6 July 2016). "Meret loaned to Spal" (in Italian). Il Resto del Carlino. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
  7. "Meret return to Ferrara". goal.com. 1 August 2017. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
  8. Gladwell, Ben (5 July 2018). "Napoli sign Fabian Ruiz from Real Betis and Alex Meret from Udinese". ESPN FC. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
  9. "Meret arrives for Napoli". Football Italia. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
  10. "EL: Napoli dominate in Zurich". Football Italia. 14 February 2019. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  11. Nicita, Maurizio (15 February 2019). "Napoli, Meret: parate europee. Un debutto che vale oro" (in Italian). La Gazzetta dello Sport. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  12. Malfitano, Mimmo (7 March 2020). "Fragile e poco funzionale al gioco di Gattuso: al Napoli c'è un caso Meret". La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  13. "New deal for Meret?". Football Italia. 25 May 2020. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  14. "Coppa: Napoli beat Juventus on penalties". Football Italia. 17 June 2020. Archived from the original on 6 September 2020. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  15. "Gattuso revela por qué rota a David Ospina y Alex Meret". 8 November 2020.
  16. "France cruise past Italy to win European Under-19 final". ESPN. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
  17. "The UEFA technical team Team of the Tournament". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
  18. "Italy: New faces for Albania and Holland". Football Italia. 18 March 2017. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
  19. "A piece of magic from Vido as Norway friendly ends 1-1". Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio. Archived from the original on 24 July 2018. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
  20. "Parte l'avventura europea: Di Biagio ufficializza la lista dei 23 Azzurrini" (in Italian). FIGC.it. 6 June 2019. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  21. "Italy: Armenia annihilated 9-1!". Football Italia. 18 November 2019. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  22. "Mancini names uncapped striker Raspadori in final Italy Euro 2020 squad". Reuters. 1 June 2021. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  23. McNulty, Phil (11 July 2021). "England lose shootout in Euro 2020 final". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
  24. "Meret campione d'Europa con zero minuti giocati: è l'unico della rosa azzurra" (in Italian). www.goal.com. 11 July 2021. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  25. Nicita, Maurizio (16 January 2020). "Ospina, il prescelto di Gattuso: "Meret sarà un grande portiere"". La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  26. Fazzini, Luca (25 March 2016). "Italia U19, i ragazzi di Vanoli ai raggi X: obiettivo Europeo" (in Italian). www.mondoprimavera.com. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  27. D'Amato, Claudio (16 January 2020). "Dualismo Meret-Ospina in casa Napoli: coi piedi meglio il colombiano" (in Italian). Goal.com. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  28. Hall, Richard (21 June 2017). "Scouting Report: Alex Meret - the big-time awaits for this confident young custodian". www.calciomercato.com. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  29. "Napoli, Meret è già da record: nella top 5 dei portieri pararigori". www.ilmattino.it (in Italian). 4 November 2019. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  30. "Alex Meret » Club matches". WorldFootball.net. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
  31. "A. Meret". Soccerway. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  32. "SPAL promoted to Serie A". Football Italia. 13 May 2017. Archived from the original on 27 January 2021. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  33. "Napoli win Serie A for first time in 33 years". BBC Sport. 4 May 2023. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
  34. "Italy 2-1 Belgium: Azzurri secure third place at Nations League finals". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations (UEFA). 10 October 2021. Archived from the original on 18 October 2021. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
  35. "Netherlands 2-3 Italy: Azzurri claim third place with thrilling win". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations (UEFA). 18 June 2023. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
  36. "Champions League breakthrough team of 2019". UEFA. 30 December 2019. Archived from the original on 30 December 2019. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
  37. "Mattarella ha conferito onorificenze motu proprio ai giocatori e allo staff della Nazionale vincitrice del campionato europeo" (in Italian). quirinale.it. 16 July 2021. Archived from the original on 16 July 2021. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
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