Luis Muriel

Luis Muriel
Personal information
Full nameLuis Fernando Muriel Fruto
Date of birth16 April 1991
Place of birthSanto Tomás, Colombia
Height1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Playing positionStriker
Club information
Current team
Sampdoria
Number24
Youth career
2001–2008Atlético Junior
2008–2009Deportivo Cali
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2009–2010Deportivo Cali11(9)
2010–2014Udinese57(15)
2010–2011→ Granada (loan)7(0)
2011–2012→ Lecce (loan)29(7)
2015–Sampdoria10(4)
National team‡
2009–2011Colombia U208(4)
2012–Colombia5(1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 29 April 2015.

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 14 November 2013
This name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Muriel and the second or maternal family name is Fruto.

Luis Fernando Muriel Fruto (born 16 April 1991) is a Colombian striker. He currently plays for Serie A club Sampdoria.

He has been considered to be one of the most promising strikers in the football world. Often receiving praise from European dominants, Manchester United, Arsenal and Barcelona.[1][2][3] During his first season with Udinese, Muriel won the Serie A Young Footballer of the Year along with Stephan El Shaarawy.

Muriel is currently a Colombian international having represented his nation at a full international level since 2012. Considered to be a member of the current golden generation of Colombia, Muriel is regarded as the future of the national team. He made his senior debut in June 2012, in a World Cup qualifying match against Ecuador. The following year, Muriel scored his first goal, against Guatemala.

His technique with the ball has led to many comparisons to that of Brazilian legend Ronaldo. Most noticeably hailed in Italy.[4][5][6]

Club career

Deportivo Cali

2009–10

In January 2009, he was signed by Deportivo Cali and immediately joined their youth side.[7] After spending a year with the youth side of Deportivo, he was promoted to the Categoría Primera A team. On 12 July 2009, he made his debut for his new side against Envigado FC.[8]

Udinese

On 30 June 2010, Udinese Calcio signed the 19-year-old Colombian striker from Deportivo Cali after he had scored 9 goals in 10 games in the Colombian league.[9]

Loaned to Granada

He was loaned to Granada CF of Spain's Second Division to get European experience on 12 July 2010.[10]

Return to Udinese

In summer 2012, Muriel returned to Udinese. On 12 September 2012 Muriel signed a new 5-year contract with Udinese, which will keep him at the club until 2017.[11] He made his debut in a 2–1 defeat against Fiorentina, providing the assist for the opening goal.[12] Muriel was awarded Serie A Young Footballer of the Year for 2012, which he shared with Stephan El Shaarawy.[13]

In the qualifying playoff rounds of the 2013-14 UEFA Europa League, Muriel scored 2 goals in a 3-1 victory over Široki Brijeg. It's also noted that he was wearing the number 9 jersey by this point for the club.[14]

In his first league match of the season, Muriel scored against Coppa Italia champions, Lazio in a 2-1 loss. On 1 September, he converted a goal from the penalty spot in a 3-1 win over Parma.[15] Muriel saved Udinese from a 1-0 lost against Bologna by providing a wonderful assist.[16]

Days later, Muriel signed a 5-year extension on his contract, keeping him with the club until 2018.[17]

Sampdoria

Luis Muriel joined Sampdoria in the 2015 January transfer window for €15m along with Samuel Eto'o.

International career

Muriel played for the Colombian U-20 national team.[18]

Muriel made his debut for the senior squad in the 2014 World Cup Qualification match against Ecuador in a 0-1 loss on 10 June 2012. He scored his first goal against Guatemala on 6 February 2013.[19]

International goals

Scores and results list Colombia's goal tally first.[20]
# Date Venue Opponent Score Final Competition
1. 6 February 2013 Sun Life Stadium, Miami Gardens, United States  Guatemala
4–1
4–1
 Friendly

Honours

Individual

Style of play

He has been praised often during his time in Italy, which led him to win the award for best young player in the Serie A league in 2012. Many figures in Italy such as fellow Udinese teammate Antonio Di Natale, praised Muriel for his potential.[21]

Muriel stated that his comparison to Brazilian legend Ronaldo by his playing style, is likely because he was a main supporter of Ronaldo during his time in Inter Milan.[22] Muriel went on to say that he supported Inter Milan because Ronaldo was playing for them at the time.[23] Coincidentally, Muriel also stated that he also suffers weight issues (like Ronaldo during his time) and had to lose five kilos at one point.[24][25] This meant that he had to be consistent with fitness, which explained his similar style to the Brazilian legend and high quality in terms of athletic stature.[22][26][27]

References

  1. ↑ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2120395/Arsenal-want-Luis-Muriel.html
  2. ↑ http://sabotagetimes.com/reportage/luis-muriel-the-lowdown-on-the-colombian-who-can-make-arsenal-forget-about-suarez/
  3. ↑ http://talksport.com/football/james-man-united-target-luis-muriel-13081054999
  4. ↑ Napoli hoopt 'Colombiaanse Ronaldo' te strikken •. Elfvoetbal.nl.
  5. ↑ CALCIOMERCATO/ Napoli, Di Salvatore (ag. FIFA): Muriel erede di Cavani? Meglio Osvaldo... (esclusiva). Ilsussidiario.net.
  6. ↑ Why Man Utd and Liverpool have joined the battle for Luis Muriel – the new Ronaldo | Transfers. Tribal Football (17 April 2012).
  7. ↑ Futbolmanía RCN (ed.): «Tres goles de Muriel le dan respiro al Deportivo Cali ». Canalrcn.com.
  8. ↑ ESPN Deportes.com (ed.): «Luis Muriel jugará en Udinese ». ESPN.go.com (1 January 2008).
  9. ↑ Colombia – L. Muriel – Profile with news, career statistics and history – Soccerway. Soccerway.
  10. ↑ Granada Club de Fútbol – Web oficial. Granadacf.es.
  11. ↑ "Muriel rinnova fino al 2017!" (in Italian). Udinese Calcio. 12 September 2012. Retrieved 12 September 2012.
  12. ↑ Fiorentina vs Udinese. Football Italia (25 August 2012).
  13. ↑ Gran Gala del Calcio 2012 – Winners. Forza Italian Football (28 January 2013).
  14. ↑ http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/season=2014/matches/round=2000467/match=2012357/index.html
  15. ↑ http://dirette.sport.repubblica.it/diretta/A/175661
  16. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9e7nPBBuJk
  17. ↑ http://comutricolor.com/luis-fernando-muriel-hasta-2018-renovo-udinese/
  18. ↑ Todos los Fichajes: Luis Muriel ficha por el Udinese. Milfichajes.blogspot.com (22 June 2010).
  19. ↑ http://www.sportskeeda.com/football/scout-report-luis-muriel/
  20. ↑ "Luis Muriel International Statistics"., Int.soccerway.com Retrieved on 15 July 2014
  21. ↑ Muriel will be a great, says Di Natale. Football Italia (2 May 2013).
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2892/transfer-zone/2013/05/30/4014129/the-colombian-ronaldo-introducing-liverpool-target-luis
  23. ↑ http://football-italia.net/35100/muriel-im-inter-fan
  24. ↑ https://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/blogs/pitchside-europe/meet-udinese-luis-muriel-forward-aiming-emulate-brazil-142745779.html
  25. ↑ http://metro.co.uk/2013/08/08/who-is-manchester-united-target-luis-muriel-3916602/
  26. ↑ Player Focus: Luis Muriel – The Forgotten Forward in This Summer's Transfer Window. Whoscored.com (18 July 2013).
  27. ↑ http://www.goal.com/en/news/10/italy/2012/07/20/3254214/guidolin-muriel-must-lose-weight

External links