Marcelo Djaló

Djaló in 2024
Personal information
Full name	Marcelo Amado Djaló Taritolay[1]
Date of birth	(1993-10-08) 8 October 1993 (age 31)
Place of birth	Barcelona, Spain
Height	1.92 m (6 ft 4 in)
Position(s)	Centre back
Team information
Current team	Buriram United
Number	20
Youth career
1999–2002	Pineda
2002–2006	Mataró
2006–2009	Sánchez Llibre
2009–2012	Real Madrid
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2012–2013	Badalona	21	(2)
2013–2014	Granada B	26	(0)
2014–2016	Juventus	0	(0)
2014–2015	→ Granada B (loan)	19	(0)
2015–2016	→ Girona (loan)	0	(0)
2016	→ UCAM Murcia (loan)	7	(0)
2016–2017	Lugo	25	(2)
2017–2019	Fulham	2	(0)
2018–2019	→ Extremadura (loan)	12	(0)
2019–2021	Lugo	42	(1)
2021	Boavista	1	(0)
2022–2023	Hércules	1	(0)
2023–2024	Palencia	16	(2)
2024–	Buriram United	4	(0)
International career‡
2019–	Guinea-Bissau	24	(1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 1 September 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 5 September 2024

Marcelo Amado Djaló Taritolay (born 8 October 1993) is a professional footballer who plays as a centre back for Buriram United. Born in Spain, he represents Guinea-Bissau at international level.

Born in Barcelona, Spain, Marcelo was a Real Madrid youth graduate. In July 2012, after being released, he went on a trial at Segunda División B's CF Badalona, signing a contract one month later.^[2] He made his senior debuts with the latter in the 2012–13 campaign, appearing in 21 matches and scoring two goals, but left in June 2013.^[3]

In the summer of 2013, Marcelo moved to Granada CF, being assigned to the reserves also in the third level. On 19 August 2014 he signed for Juventus FC, being immediately loaned back to the Andalusians for one year.^[4]

On 14 January 2015, Marcelo made his first team debut, playing the full 90 minutes in a 0–4 away loss against Sevilla FC for the season's Copa del Rey.^[5]

On 11 July 2015, Marcelo moved to Girona FC, in a season-long loan deal.^[6] His debut for the club came on 9 September, where he started and scored a last-minute equalizer in a 2–2 away draw against Gimnàstic de Tarragona for the national cup; his side, however, was knocked out on penalties.

Marcelo failed to make a single league appearance for the club, being only a sixth choice behind Florian Lejeune, Kiko Olivas, Pedro Alcalá, Richy and Carles Mas. On 18 April 2016, he terminated his loan with the Catalans, and immediately joined UCAM Murcia CF on loan until June.^[7]

On 7 July, after helping UCAM in the club's first ever promotion to Segunda División, Marcelo signed a two-year deal with CD Lugo.^[8] He made his debut in the second tier on 27 August 2016, coming on as a second-half substitute for Carlos Hernández in a 3–3 home draw against Real Zaragoza.^[9]

Marcelo scored his first goal in the category on 11 December 2016, netting his team's second in a 3–1 home win against CD Numancia. He contributed with two goals in 25 appearances during the campaign, as his side finished eighth.

Fulham confirmed the signing of Marcelo on 3 July 2017. He signed a three-year contract for an undisclosed fee.^[10] He made his Fulham debut in an EFL Cup tie against Wycombe Wanderers on 8 August 2017.^[11]

On 15 August 2018, Marcelo returned to Spain and its second division after agreeing to a one-year loan deal with Extremadura UD.^[12] His loan was cut short on 31 January 2019 after 12 league appearances.^[13]

On 27 August 2019, Marcelo returned to Lugo after agreeing to a three-year contract.^[14]

On 31 August 2021, he joined Boavista in Portugal, signing a contract until the end of the 2021–22 season, with an option for an additional year.^[15] On 18 November 2021, Marcelo's contract with Boavista was terminated for "personal and family reasons".^[16]

On 5 August 2022, Marcelo signed a one-year contract with Hércules in the fourth-tier Segunda Federación.^[17] On 4 September 2022, in a season opener against Mallorca B, Marcelo suffered a tibia fracture.^[18] His knee ligaments were also damaged and the recovery after surgery was expected to last approximately a year.^[19]

Djaló qualified to play for Spain through his birth in Barcelona, Guinea-Bissau through his father, or Argentina through his mother. In March 2019, he accepted a call-up from Guinea-Bissau for a 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Mozambique, but did not make his debut.

He made his debut on 8 June 2019 in a friendly against Angola, as a starter.^[20] Represented the national team at 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.^[21]

Djaló was born in Spain, and is of Bissau-Guinean and Argentine descent.^[22]

As of match played 15 May 2018

• Marcelo at BDFutbol
• Marcelo at Soccerway
• Marcelo Djaló at National-Football-Teams.com