Felipe Rodríguez-Gentile

Felipe Rodríguez-Gentile (born 4 October 2006), sometimes referred to as Felipe or Felipinho, is a footballer currently playing as a forward for Championship side Preston North End.

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Rodríguez and the second or maternal family name is Gentile.
Felipe Rodríguez-Gentile
Personal information
Date of birth (2006-10-04) 4 October 2006
Place of birth Vinhedo, São Paulo, Brazil
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 Preston North End
Number 24
Youth career
2018–2019 Sant’Anna
2020–2021 Huyton Juniors
2021– Preston North End
International career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2023– Argentina U17 0 (0)

Early life

Rodríguez-Gentile was born in Brazil to Argentine parents, Fernando and Agustina, a chemist and biologist, respectively, who left Argentina in 2002 following the Argentine great depression.[1] His parents settled in Vinhedo, a municipality in the state of São Paulo, where Rodríguez-Gentile and his brother Mateo were born.[2][3] Having also spent time living in Milan, Italy, Rodríguez-Gentile emigrated from São Paulo to Liverpool in January 2020.[1][3][4][5]

Club career

Early career

While attending the Merchant Taylors' Boys' School in Crosby, a friend invited him to join his Sunday league team, Huyton Juniors.[5] Having helped Huyton Juniors retain the Merseyside and Halewood League championship title, Rodríguez-Gentile's performances earned him a trial at Premier League club Liverpool, though he was ultimately not offered a place in their academy, in part due to the COVID-19 pandemic in England.[5][6]

Preston North End

He would go on to join Preston North End in 2021, with the club pre-arranging a two-year scholarship, beginning summer 2023, after recognising his potential.[5] In Round 3 of the 2022–23 FA Youth Cup, specifically Preston's tie with Rotherham United on 9 December 2022, Rodríguez-Gentile scored five of Preston's goals in a 6–1 win.[7] Following this performance, he began being linked with a number of Premier League sides, including Liverpool and Manchester United.[8] Preston manager Ryan Lowe criticised the media following these links, stating that there had been no official approach from any club, and that he did not want Rodríguez-Gentile to get carried away.[9]

Another Rodríguez-Gentile goal helped Preston progress past Gillingham in the Fourth Round of the FA Youth Cup, as they won 2–1 on 18 January 2023.[10] He would score again as Preston beat Luton Town 3–2 in the following round on 6 February, but was unable to prevent the club from being knocked out by Southampton in the Quarter-finals.[11] Despite his side being knocked out, Rodríguez-Gentile finished as the tournament's second top-scorer, with seven goals.[2]

The following season, having signed a scholarship deal with the club, Rodríguez-Gentile was included in the first team squad ahead of pre-season.[12] In Preston's opening game of pre-season, a friendly game against Bamber Bridge, Rodríguez-Gentile was brought on as a second-half substitute for Mikey O'Neill, and went on to score in Preston's 7–0 win.[13] This performance earned him a place in the squad travelling to Spain, where he would continue to impress, scoring twice more in friendlies. In a 3–0 win against Gibraltar opposition Bruno's Magpies, he calmly finished early in the second half, before scoring a consolation in a 2–1 home loss to Ipswich Town on 19 July.[14][15]

Rodríguez-Gentile was included on the bench for Preston's opening game of the 2023–24 season, which they would go on to draw 1–1 away at Bristol City. He remained on the bench for the next four Championship fixtures, but due to Preston's form, winning all four matches, he found himself unable to make his debut.[3]

International career

Rodríguez-Gentile is eligible to represent Argentina, Brazil and Spain at international level. In May 2023, he posted a photo to his Instagram story, standing in front of his television with his hand on his chest as the Argentine under-20 side stood for the national anthem ahead of their 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup match against Nigeria.[16] His father has stated that it is Rodríguez-Gentile's "dream" to represent Argentina.[2]

While on holiday in Argentina, he was contacted by Argentine Football Association scout Juan Martín Tassi, who enquired with his parents about the possibility of Rodríguez-Gentile representing Argentina at youth international level.[1] In September 2023, he was called up to the Argentina national under-17 football team for the first time by manager Diego Placente.[17][18] He went on to play in two hybrid friendlies for Argentina’s under-17 team against the academy teams of Boca Juniors and Barracas Central.

Career statistics

Club
As of 12 September 2023.[19]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Preston North End 2023–24 Championship 0000000000
Career total 0000000000
Notes

    References
    1. "Quién es Felipinho, el jugador que brilla en Inglaterra y convocaron a la Selección Argentina Sub 17" [Who is Felipinho, the player who shines in England and was called up to the Argentine Under 17 National Team]. rionegro.com.ar (in Spanish). 11 September 2023. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
    2. Tamagni, Roi (28 June 2023). "Nació en Brasil, brilla en Inglaterra, pero sueña con jugar para Argentina: la historia de Felipinho, el europibe que podría ir al Mundial Sub 17" [He was born in Brazil, shines in England, but dreams of playing for Argentina: the story of Felipinho, the Euroboy who could go to the Under 17 World Cup]. infobae.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 12 September 2023.
    3. "Nació en Brasil, juega en Inglaterra y fue llamado para la Selección Argentina Sub 17: la historia de Felipinho" [He was born in Brazil, plays in England and was called up for the Argentina Under 17 National Team: Felipinho's story]. pagina12.com.ar (in Spanish). 12 September 2023. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
    4. "Felipe Rodríguez-Gentile". pnefc.net. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
    5. Jones, Andy (6 February 2023). "Preston's 16-year-old Brazilian who scored five in one game: 'He's the perfect storm'". theathletic.com. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
    6. "¿Quién es Felipinho? El nuevo 'europibe' de origen brasileño convocado por la Selección Argentina Sub 17" [Who is Felipino? The new 'europibe' of Brazilian origin summoned by the Argentina Sub 17 Selection]. clarin.com (in Spanish). 11 September 2023. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
    7. Hodgson, George (9 December 2022). "16-year-old scores five goals as Preston North End thrash Rotherham in FA Youth Cup". lancs.live. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
    8. Dawes, Olly (22 December 2022). "Report: PNE talent Felipe Rodriguez-Gentile already attracting interest from Liverpool and Manchester United". deepdaledigest.com. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
    9. Wynn, Amos (23 December 2022). "Manchester United and Liverpool links to Felipe Rodriguez-Gentile 'unfair' says Ryan Lowe, as Preston North End boss criticises media reports". lep.co.uk. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
    10. Hodgson, George (19 January 2023). "Felipe Rodriguez-Gentile scores again as Preston North End progress in FA Youth Cup". lancs.live. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
    11. Sandells, Tom (7 February 2023). "Preston North End into quarter finals of FA Youth Cup after win over Luton Town". lep.co.uk. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
    12. "Felipe Rodriguez-Gentile: "I'm Learning A Lot"". pnefc.net. 20 July 2023. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
    13. "Match Report: Bamber Bridge 0 PNE 7". pnefc.net. 1 July 2023. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
    14. "Match Report: PNE 3 Bruno's Magpies 0". pnefc.net. 5 July 2023. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
    15. "Match Report: PNE 1 Ipswich Town 2". pnefc.net. 19 July 2023. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
    16. "Felipinho, la joya brasileña con padres argentinos que alienta por la Selección" [Felipinho, the Brazilian jewel with Argentine parents who encourages the National Team]. ole.com.ar (in Spanish). 31 May 2023. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
    17. "Felipe Rodriguez-Gentile Receives Call From Argentina U17". pnefc.net. 11 September 2023. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
    18. "Sorpresa en el Sub 17 de Argentina: citaron al brasileño que juega en Inglaterra" [Surprise in the Argentina Sub 17: they summoned the Brazilian who plays in England]. ole.com.ar (in Spanish). 11 September 2023. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
    19. Felipe Rodríguez-Gentile at Soccerway
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