Lorenzo Melgarejo
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I can't judge him without seeing his every touch in a game against Malaga.
Name: Lorenzo Antonio Melgarejo
Date of birth: 10 August, 1990
Birthplace: Loma Grande, Paraguay
Position: Wing-back/winger
Club: Benfica
International appearances: One Paraguay cap (correct as of 13/06/13)
After a solid breakthrough season on Benfica's left flank in which he was converted from winger to wing-back, Melgarejo has attracted the attention of several clubs. According to Portuguese paper, Record, both Arsenal and Turkish side Fenerbahce have scouted him in recent weeks, and have enquired about his contractual situation. His agent says he would be keen to play in England, so it looks promising for the Gunners.
1) Melgarejo started out in his native Paraguay with local side El Porvenir, then had a brief spell at Libertad before making his breakthrough with Independiente de Camp Grande. His early professional career was less than straightforward, though, as he was first transferred to Club Olimpia in 2010, before Independiente changed their mind and brought him back the following season.
2) Benfica snapped up the Paraguayan for around £650,000 in June 2011, and immediately sent him out on loan to Paços de Ferreira, where he operated on both the left and right wings. He scored on his debut, a vital strike in a 2-1 win over U.D Leiria, and had an excellent campaign with them, scoring 10 times over the course of the season and finishing the year as top scorer.
3) Jorge Jesus brought Melgarejo back to Benfica ahead of the 2012/13 campaign, and it proved a wise move. He was converted into a more defensive player, occupying the left wing-back role and the Paraguayan made 35 appearances for the club last season, including the Europa League final against Chelsea.
4) Though Melgarejo's scoring figures have been lessened by his new, more withdrawn role, he has still managed to find the back of the net twice for Benfica. He scored his first goal on 10 March, 2013 in a 5-0 win over Gil Vicente, and followed that by opening the scoring in a 6-1 win over Rio Ave just over two weeks later. Unfortunately for the defender, however, he was also sent off for a second yellow card in the 90th minute of a heated encounter that featured three red cards and 12 bookings.
5) Melgarejo made three appearances for Paraguay's U20 side, playing for them at the 2009 World Cup, and was called up to the senior side for the first time in October 2011. He had to wait until November 2012 to make his debut, though, when he came on in the second half of a 3-1 friendly win over Guatemala.
Date of birth: 10 August, 1990
Birthplace: Loma Grande, Paraguay
Position: Wing-back/winger
Club: Benfica
International appearances: One Paraguay cap (correct as of 13/06/13)
After a solid breakthrough season on Benfica's left flank in which he was converted from winger to wing-back, Melgarejo has attracted the attention of several clubs. According to Portuguese paper, Record, both Arsenal and Turkish side Fenerbahce have scouted him in recent weeks, and have enquired about his contractual situation. His agent says he would be keen to play in England, so it looks promising for the Gunners.
1) Melgarejo started out in his native Paraguay with local side El Porvenir, then had a brief spell at Libertad before making his breakthrough with Independiente de Camp Grande. His early professional career was less than straightforward, though, as he was first transferred to Club Olimpia in 2010, before Independiente changed their mind and brought him back the following season.
2) Benfica snapped up the Paraguayan for around £650,000 in June 2011, and immediately sent him out on loan to Paços de Ferreira, where he operated on both the left and right wings. He scored on his debut, a vital strike in a 2-1 win over U.D Leiria, and had an excellent campaign with them, scoring 10 times over the course of the season and finishing the year as top scorer.
3) Jorge Jesus brought Melgarejo back to Benfica ahead of the 2012/13 campaign, and it proved a wise move. He was converted into a more defensive player, occupying the left wing-back role and the Paraguayan made 35 appearances for the club last season, including the Europa League final against Chelsea.
4) Though Melgarejo's scoring figures have been lessened by his new, more withdrawn role, he has still managed to find the back of the net twice for Benfica. He scored his first goal on 10 March, 2013 in a 5-0 win over Gil Vicente, and followed that by opening the scoring in a 6-1 win over Rio Ave just over two weeks later. Unfortunately for the defender, however, he was also sent off for a second yellow card in the 90th minute of a heated encounter that featured three red cards and 12 bookings.
5) Melgarejo made three appearances for Paraguay's U20 side, playing for them at the 2009 World Cup, and was called up to the senior side for the first time in October 2011. He had to wait until November 2012 to make his debut, though, when he came on in the second half of a 3-1 friendly win over Guatemala.
Europa League Final rating
Just extended his contract last year until 2018, in which his release clause was increased to €30 million.
Liverpool target Lorenzo Melgarejo: An in-depth look at the Benfica man wanted by the Kop
29 Jul 2013 13:18
He's a left-winger, not a left-back says Portuguese football expert Tom Kundert. Someone tell Brendan!
The Paraguayan youngster is an immense talent, but he's not a defender says our expert
29 Jul 2013 13:18
He's a left-winger, not a left-back says Portuguese football expert Tom Kundert. Someone tell Brendan!
The Paraguayan youngster is an immense talent, but he's not a defender says our expert
David Ramos
“Why did they let him go?” is one of the first questions any fan wondering about a new acquisition should ask when a young prospect is released.
In the case of 22 year-old Paraguayan Lorenzo Melgarejo, the apparently simple answer of “he didn’t do the business for Benfica last season”, is just one, very small, part of the story.
First thing's first. Liverpool target Melgarejo is an exciting, talented, free-scoring left winger .
Or rather, he was.
His position is purposely written in italics, because if you read any review on Benfica in 2012/13, Melgarejo will be correctly listed as a left-back.
However, it was on the wing where he made his name. He was bought by Benfica from Independiente in 2011 and immediately loaned out to modest Portuguese top-flight club, Paços de Ferreira. This is common practice in Portugal, with FC Porto and Benfica especially contracting a bucket-load of South Americans each summer, a significant proportion of whom fit into the “let’s have a punt on him” category. Most disappear without trace.
Not Melgarejo. A string of vibrant displays on the left flank (see video) saw him finish top scorer for Paços in 2011/12 (10 goals in 29 league games), almost single-handedly saving the club from relegation. It was enough to persuade Benfica to bring him into the senior squad on an improved and extended contract until 2018, with a €30 million release clause written into it.
It soon became clear to most onlookers that history would not repeat itself. A series of blunders during preseason cost several goals but Jesus insisted in proving the critics wrong. Not even after the first Liga game of the season, when Melgarejo scored a spectacular own goal and laid on a perfect ‘assist’ for the opposition, in a 2-2 draw against Braga, would Jesus be dissuaded from abandoning his experiment.
And so the whole season the position remained Benfica’s weak spot, with opposition teams evidently targeting Melgarejo. He improved, but his lack of aggression and positional difficulties made it clear, especially against stronger adversaries, that he did not have the attributes to perform the role asked of him to any degree of success. By the end of the campaign the penny finally dropped and Jorge Jesus dropped Melgarejo for the Portuguese Cup final.
The skill, speed and directness of the Paraguayan’s forward runs in 2012/13, allied to a commendable incisiveness (scoring in successive home games in March) shows he remains an exciting prospect with a big future in the game. But not at left-back.
In the case of 22 year-old Paraguayan Lorenzo Melgarejo, the apparently simple answer of “he didn’t do the business for Benfica last season”, is just one, very small, part of the story.
First thing's first. Liverpool target Melgarejo is an exciting, talented, free-scoring left winger .
Or rather, he was.
His position is purposely written in italics, because if you read any review on Benfica in 2012/13, Melgarejo will be correctly listed as a left-back.
However, it was on the wing where he made his name. He was bought by Benfica from Independiente in 2011 and immediately loaned out to modest Portuguese top-flight club, Paços de Ferreira. This is common practice in Portugal, with FC Porto and Benfica especially contracting a bucket-load of South Americans each summer, a significant proportion of whom fit into the “let’s have a punt on him” category. Most disappear without trace.
Not Melgarejo. A string of vibrant displays on the left flank (see video) saw him finish top scorer for Paços in 2011/12 (10 goals in 29 league games), almost single-handedly saving the club from relegation. It was enough to persuade Benfica to bring him into the senior squad on an improved and extended contract until 2018, with a €30 million release clause written into it.
However, Melgarejo was never given the chance to build on his brilliant season in his natural position. Benfica coach Jorge Jesus’ all-out attacking philosophy makes his teams a joy to watch, but the tactician comes with a hefty dose of arrogance, some would say delusion, others downright stubbornness.
Jesus insisted from the outset that Melgarejo would be Benfica’s first-choice left-back, undoubtedly influenced by the spectacular success in bringing about the exact same conversion in the case of Fábio Coentrão. Coentrão arrived at Benfica a talented winger. He left in exchange for €30 million euros from Real Madrid having established himself as one of the world’s finest in his position.It soon became clear to most onlookers that history would not repeat itself. A series of blunders during preseason cost several goals but Jesus insisted in proving the critics wrong. Not even after the first Liga game of the season, when Melgarejo scored a spectacular own goal and laid on a perfect ‘assist’ for the opposition, in a 2-2 draw against Braga, would Jesus be dissuaded from abandoning his experiment.
And so the whole season the position remained Benfica’s weak spot, with opposition teams evidently targeting Melgarejo. He improved, but his lack of aggression and positional difficulties made it clear, especially against stronger adversaries, that he did not have the attributes to perform the role asked of him to any degree of success. By the end of the campaign the penny finally dropped and Jorge Jesus dropped Melgarejo for the Portuguese Cup final.
The skill, speed and directness of the Paraguayan’s forward runs in 2012/13, allied to a commendable incisiveness (scoring in successive home games in March) shows he remains an exciting prospect with a big future in the game. But not at left-back.
If that's the case it's another bit of canny business.
"By Tom Kundert | 29/07/13
“Why did they let him go?” is one of the first questions any fan wondering about a new acquisition should ask when a young prospect is released.
In the case of 22 year-old Paraguayan Lorenzo Melgarejo, the apparently simple answer of “he didn’t do the business for Benfica last season”, is just one, very small, part of the story.
First thing's first. Liverpool target Melgarejo is an exciting, talented, free-scoring left winger .
Or rather, he was.
His position is purposely written in italics, because if you read any review on Benfica in 2012/13, Melgarejo will be correctly listed as a left-back.
However, it was on the wing where he made his name. He was bought by Benfica from Independiente in 2011 and immediately loaned out to modest Portuguese top-flight club, Paços de Ferreira. This is common practice in Portugal, with FC Porto and Benfica especially contracting a bucket-load of South Americans each summer, a significant proportion of whom fit into the “let’s have a punt on him” category. Most disappear without trace.
Not Melgarejo. A string of vibrant displays on the left flank (see video) saw him finish top scorer for Paços in 2011/12 (10 goals in 29 league games), almost single-handedly saving the club from relegation. It was enough to persuade Benfica to bring him into the senior squad on an improved and extended contract until 2018, with a €30 million release clause written into it.
However, Melgarejo was never given the chance to build on his brilliant season in his natural position. Benfica coach Jorge Jesus’ all-out attacking philosophy makes his teams a joy to watch, but the tactician comes with a hefty dose of arrogance, some would say delusion, others downright stubbornness.
Jesus insisted from the outset that Melgarejo would be Benfica’s first-choice left-back, undoubtedly influenced by the spectacular success in bringing about the exact same conversion in the case of Fábio Coentrão. Coentrão arrived at Benfica a talented winger. He left in exchange for €30 million euros from Real Madrid having established himself as one of the world’s finest in his position.
It soon became clear to most onlookers that history would not repeat itself. A series of blunders during preseason cost several goals but Jesus insisted in proving the critics wrong. Not even after the first Liga game of the season, when Melgarejo scored a spectacular own goal and laid on a perfect ‘assist’ for the opposition, in a 2-2 draw against Braga, would Jesus be dissuaded from abandoning his experiment.
And so the whole season the position remained Benfica’s weak spot, with opposition teams evidently targeting Melgarejo. He improved, but his lack of aggression and positional difficulties made it clear, especially against stronger adversaries, that he did not have the attributes to perform the role asked of him to any degree of success. By the end of the campaign the penny finally dropped and Jorge Jesus dropped Melgarejo for the Portuguese Cup final.
The skill, speed and directness of the Paraguayan’s forward runs in 2012/13, allied to a commendable incisiveness (scoring in successive home games in March) shows he remains an exciting prospect with a big future in the game. But not at left-back."
Doesn't fill me with confidence.
“Why did they let him go?” is one of the first questions any fan wondering about a new acquisition should ask when a young prospect is released.
In the case of 22 year-old Paraguayan Lorenzo Melgarejo, the apparently simple answer of “he didn’t do the business for Benfica last season”, is just one, very small, part of the story.
First thing's first. Liverpool target Melgarejo is an exciting, talented, free-scoring left winger .
Or rather, he was.
His position is purposely written in italics, because if you read any review on Benfica in 2012/13, Melgarejo will be correctly listed as a left-back.
However, it was on the wing where he made his name. He was bought by Benfica from Independiente in 2011 and immediately loaned out to modest Portuguese top-flight club, Paços de Ferreira. This is common practice in Portugal, with FC Porto and Benfica especially contracting a bucket-load of South Americans each summer, a significant proportion of whom fit into the “let’s have a punt on him” category. Most disappear without trace.
Not Melgarejo. A string of vibrant displays on the left flank (see video) saw him finish top scorer for Paços in 2011/12 (10 goals in 29 league games), almost single-handedly saving the club from relegation. It was enough to persuade Benfica to bring him into the senior squad on an improved and extended contract until 2018, with a €30 million release clause written into it.
However, Melgarejo was never given the chance to build on his brilliant season in his natural position. Benfica coach Jorge Jesus’ all-out attacking philosophy makes his teams a joy to watch, but the tactician comes with a hefty dose of arrogance, some would say delusion, others downright stubbornness.
Jesus insisted from the outset that Melgarejo would be Benfica’s first-choice left-back, undoubtedly influenced by the spectacular success in bringing about the exact same conversion in the case of Fábio Coentrão. Coentrão arrived at Benfica a talented winger. He left in exchange for €30 million euros from Real Madrid having established himself as one of the world’s finest in his position.
It soon became clear to most onlookers that history would not repeat itself. A series of blunders during preseason cost several goals but Jesus insisted in proving the critics wrong. Not even after the first Liga game of the season, when Melgarejo scored a spectacular own goal and laid on a perfect ‘assist’ for the opposition, in a 2-2 draw against Braga, would Jesus be dissuaded from abandoning his experiment.
And so the whole season the position remained Benfica’s weak spot, with opposition teams evidently targeting Melgarejo. He improved, but his lack of aggression and positional difficulties made it clear, especially against stronger adversaries, that he did not have the attributes to perform the role asked of him to any degree of success. By the end of the campaign the penny finally dropped and Jorge Jesus dropped Melgarejo for the Portuguese Cup final.
The skill, speed and directness of the Paraguayan’s forward runs in 2012/13, allied to a commendable incisiveness (scoring in successive home games in March) shows he remains an exciting prospect with a big future in the game. But not at left-back."
Doesn't fill me with confidence.
Never heard of the kid.
If we're buying him for left wing, we may well benefit from his failed season at full back.
A winger who knows how the player behind him will play is usually better for it, regardless whether they're any good there themselves or not.
A winger who knows how the player behind him will play is usually better for it, regardless whether they're any good there themselves or not.
Judging by his pedigree we'll be calling him cunt in no time anyway.
Nah. He only needs to be a halfway decent left winger with some tricks to make us love him.
just one trick would be enough after having downing in the team.
Is downing leaving?
Yeah, on loan to Napoli.
Unfortunately not, but we still need better than him.
He is a high earner...
Liverpool, meanwhile, have agreed a loan deal for Benfica left back Lorenzo Melgarejo but will require a work permit if they are to proceed with signing of the Paraguay international.
bazza comb
bazza comb
Goodbye English Downing.
Hello Paraguayian Downing.
Hello Paraguayian Downing.
Replace a mediocre winger who is also crap as left back with a younger cheaper mediocre winger who is also crap as left back.
That's good business right there.
Now we need to find an 18 year old, small, clearly talented but ultimately uninspiring midfielder to replace Joe Allen
That's good business right there.
Now we need to find an 18 year old, small, clearly talented but ultimately uninspiring midfielder to replace Joe Allen
Tom you cynical bastard! 😀
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