Roberto Merino

Roberto Merino Ramírez (born 19 May 1982) is a Peruvian professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder.

This article is about the Peruvian footballer. For the Chilean author, see Roberto Merino (writer).
In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Merino and the second or maternal family name is Ramírez.
Roberto Merino
Personal information
Full name Roberto Merino Ramírez
Date of birth (1982-05-19) 19 May 1982
Place of birth Chiclayo, Peru
Height 1.67 m (5 ft 6 in)
Position(s) Attacking midfielder
Youth career
1997–1998 Barcelona
1998–2000 Mallorca
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2000–2002 Mallorca B 42 (2)
2003–2004 Málaga B 55 (8)
2004–2005 Servette 12 (3)
2005 Ciudad Murcia 8 (0)
2005–2006 Akratitos 8 (0)
2006–2008 Atromitos 42 (8)
2008–2011 Salernitana 47 (5)
2011 → Al-Nasr (loan) 3 (0)
2011 Unión Comercio 8 (3)
2011 Juan Aurich 7 (0)
2012 Nocerina 29 (8)
2013 Deportes Tolima 8 (2)
2013–2014 Juan Aurich 12 (3)
2014 UTC 10 (1)
2015 Pattaya United 11 (2)
2015–2016 Unión Comercio 14 (3)
2016 Torres 2 (0)
2019 Puteolana 1902 0 (0)
International career
2000–2001 Spain U18 9 (3)
2009 Peru 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 26 March 2017

He also holds Spanish citizenship, due to the many years spent in the country.

Club career

Having moved to Spain in his teens after being born in Chiclayo, Lambayeque Region, Merino played youth football with FC Barcelona (only one year) and RCD Mallorca. He made his senior debuts with the latter's reserves, in Segunda División B.

In January 2003, Merino joined Atlético Malagueño, being an important midfielder element as Málaga CF's B-team retained their newly acquired status in Segunda División, with the player having contributed with 20 games and five goals to the promotion (play-offs included).[1] Subsequently, he moved to Switzerland and signed with Servette FC but, with the club facing bankruptcy, left in the following transfer window to Ciudad de Murcia – also in Spain's second level – alongside teammate João Paulo Daniel.

Merino was signed by Atromitos F.C. in January 2006, from fellow Super League Greece side Akratitos FC.[2] In February 2009, after two full seasons and two halves, he changed teams (and countries) again, joining U.S. Salernitana 1919 in Italy.

On 8 January 2011, Merino signed with Al-Nasr SC of the Kuwaiti Premier League, on loan from Salernitana.[3] Less than one month after, however, he left the Asian club;[4] according to the player, he decided to leave because he did not feel comfortable and had other objectives for his football career.[5]

On 28 February 2011, Merino signed a half-season contract with Unión Comercio[6]– at almost 29, this marked the first time he would be playing in the Peruvian Primera División. He stated that his main reason for joining was to earn a regular starting spot on the Peru national team.[7]

International career

Merino represented Spain at under-18 level, having already spent several years living in the country. He decided to play for Peru as a senior, earning his first and only cap on 7 June 2009 in a 1–2 home loss against Ecuador for the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.[8]

Personal life

Merino's younger brother, Iván, was also a footballer. A defender, he too represented Mallorca B and Salernitana.[9]

Honours

Club
Juan Aurich

References
  1. "Roberto Merino, el mago del balón" [Roberto Merino, the ball wizard]. Diario Sur (in Spanish). 8 April 2008. Retrieved 29 March 2017.
  2. "Ono makes Feyenoord farewell". UEFA. 13 January 2006. Retrieved 3 February 2009.
  3. "Merino in prestito al club Al-Nasr (Kuwait)). Il giocatore: "Ringrazio Lombardi e la società per la sensibilità dimostrata"" [Merino on loan to Al-Nasr (Kuwait). The player: "Thanks to Lombardi and the organization for their sensibility"] (in Italian). Salernitana Calcio. 8 January 2011. Archived from the original on 18 January 2011. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
  4. مارينو لعب 3 مباريات وحصل على 100 الف دولار!!! [Merino played three games and got 100 thousand dollars!!!]. Al-Watan (in Arabic). 2 February 2011. Retrieved 2 February 2011.
  5. "Merino: "Quiero mostrarme para jugar la Copa América y las eliminatorias"" [Merino: "I want to show my talent to play the Copa América and the qualifiers"] (in Spanish). Depor. 12 February 2011. Retrieved 18 February 2011.
  6. "Confirmado: Roberto Merino llega a Unión Comercio" [Confirmed: Roberto Merino arrives to Unión Comercio] (in Spanish). Unión Comercio. 28 February 2011. Archived from the original on 4 September 2011. Retrieved 22 July 2011.
  7. "Merino: "Vine al Perú para mostrarme y volver a la selección"" [Merino: "I came to Peru to show my talent and return to the national team"] (in Spanish). Peru.com. 23 April 2011. Retrieved 22 July 2011.
  8. "Ecuador vence 2–1 a Perú en Lima por eliminatorias sudamericanas" [Ecuador defeat Peru 2–1 in Lima for the South American qualifiers]. La Hora (in Spanish). 7 June 2009. Retrieved 29 March 2017.
  9. "Los Caimanes: hermano de Roberto Merino está a prueba en el equipo" [Los Caimanes: Roberto Merino's brother on trial with team] (in Spanish). Depor. 14 January 2014. Retrieved 29 March 2017.
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