Matheus Fernandes Siqueira (born 30 June 1998) is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for Red Bull Bragantino, on loan from Palmeiras.

Matheus Fernandes
Matheus Fernandes with Red Bull Bragantino in 2023
Personal information
Full name Matheus Fernandes Siqueira
Date of birth (1998-06-30) 30 June 1998 (age 26)
Place of birth Itaboraí, Brazil
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Central midfielder
Team information
Current team
Red Bull Bragantino (on loan from Palmeiras)
Number 35
Youth career
2015–2016 Botafogo
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016–2018 Botafogo 68 (0)
2019–2020 Palmeiras 11 (1)
2020Valladolid (loan) 3 (0)
2020–2021 Barcelona 0 (0)
2021– Palmeiras 7 (0)
2022Athletico Paranaense (loan) 18 (0)
2023–Red Bull Bragantino (loan) 0 (0)
International career
2014 Brazil U17 2 (0)
2016 Brazil U20 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23:19, 27 October 2022 (UTC)

Club career

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Botafogo

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Born in Itaboraí, Rio de Janeiro, Fernandes represented Botafogo as a youth. He was called up to the 2016 pre-season with the main squad,[1] but was only promoted to the first team by manager Jair Ventura; late in the year, he renewed his contract until the end of 2019.[2]

Fernandes made his senior debut on 28 January 2017, starting in a 1–1 Campeonato Carioca home draw against Nova Iguaçu.[3] Four days later he made his Copa Libertadores debut, replacing Camilo in a 2–1 home win against Colo-Colo.[4]

Fernandes was a regular starter for Bota during the 2018 campaign, appearing in 32 league matches (40 overall) and winning the year's Campeonato Carioca. He scored his first professional goal on 10 May of that year, netting the opener in a 1–1 Copa Sudamericana home draw against Audax Italiano (3–2 aggregate win).[5]

Palmeiras

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On 19 December 2018, Fernandes signed a five-year contract with Palmeiras,[6] for a rumoured fee of R$ 15 million. A backup to regular starters Felipe Melo and Bruno Henrique, he was not registered for the year's Campeonato Paulista, and only made his debut for the club on 1 May, replacing Moisés in a 1–1 away draw against CSA.[7]

Fernandes started to feature more regularly after Moisés' departure to Shandong Luneng, and scored his first goal on 1 December 2019, but in a 1–3 home loss against Flamengo.

Valladolid (loan)

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On 31 January 2020, just hours after signing for Barcelona, Fernandes joined fellow La Liga side Real Valladolid on loan from Palmeiras.[8] He only made his debut abroad on 20 June, starting in a 0–1 loss at Atlético Madrid.[9]

Barcelona

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On 31 January 2020, Barcelona announced that they had reached agreement with Palmeiras for the transfer of Fernandes, who would join the Catalan club ahead of the 2020–21 season at the end of September, after completing his loan spell with Real Valladolid. Barça paid a fee of 7 million plus €3 million on add-ons, and the player agreed to a five-year contract with the club.[10] On 24 November, he made his first and only appearance for Barcelona's first team and also in the UEFA Champions League when he replaced Pedri for the final 17 minutes during a 4–0 away victory against Dynamo Kyiv in a Champions League group stage match.[11]

On 17 April 2021, Matheus won his first and only trophy with Barcelona after his side defeated Athletic Bilbao 4–0 in the Copa del Rey final.[12] Although he didn't feature for a single minute in the competition, he was considered as a winner as he was named in the matchday squads in two of the matches.

On 29 June 2021, his contract was terminated by Barcelona.[13]

Return to Palmeiras

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On 9 July 2021, Palmeiras signed Matheus for 4+12 seasons, till 31 December 2025, after his contract with Barcelona was terminated.[14]

International career

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Fernandes represented Brazil at under-17 and under-20 levels.

Career statistics

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As of 7 December 2021[15]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League State League Cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Botafogo 2017 Série A 22 0 6 0 5 0 7[a] 0 40 0
2018 Série A 33 0 7 0 0 0 5[b] 1 45 1
Total 55 0 13 0 5 0 12 1 85 1
Palmeiras 2019 Série A 11 1 1 0 0 0 12 1
Valladolid (loan) 2019–20 La Liga 3 0 3 0
Barcelona 2020–21 La Liga 0 0 0 0 1[c] 0 1 0
Palmeiras 2021 Série A 6 0 0 0 6 0
Career total 75 1 13 0 6 0 13 1 0 0 107 2
  1. ^ Appearances in Copa Libertadores
  2. ^ Appearances in Copa Sudamericana
  3. ^ Appearance in UEFA Champions League

Honours

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Club

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Botafogo

Barcelona

Palmeiras

References

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  1. ^ "Promessa do Botafogo celebra espaço no time principal e já mira chances" [Botafogo prospect celebrates space in the main squad and already aims his chances] (in Portuguese). O Estado de S. Paulo. 18 January 2016. Retrieved 6 April 2017.
  2. ^ "A lista de Matheus Fernandes: joia do Botafogo traça dez metas na carreira" [The list of Matheus Fernandes: Botafogo pearl outlines ten goals in his career] (in Portuguese). Globo Esporte. 10 November 2016. Retrieved 6 April 2017.
  3. ^ "Botafogo empata com Nova Iguaçu e segue sem vencer na Taça Guanabara" [Botafogo draw with Nova Iguaçu and remain winless in Taça Guanabara] (in Portuguese). UOL Esporte. 28 January 2017. Retrieved 6 April 2017.
  4. ^ "Golaço, gol contra e sofrimento: com estádio lotado, Botafogo vence Colo-Colo" [Great goal, own goal and suffering: with a full stadium, Botafogo defeat Colo-Colo] (in Portuguese). ESPN Brasil. 1 February 2017. Retrieved 6 April 2017.
  5. ^ "Após ensaio e 1º gol, Matheus Fernandes vai persistir: "Quem sabe não vem mais?"" [After rehearsal and 1st goal, Matheus Fernandes will persist: "Who knows if more does not come?"] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Globo Esporte. 10 May 2018. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  6. ^ "Palmeiras contrata volante Matheus Fernandes, ex-Botafogo, por cinco anos" [Palmeiras sign defensive midfielder Matheus Fernandes, formerly of Botafogo, for five years] (in Brazilian Portuguese). SE Palmeiras. 19 December 2018. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  7. ^ "Matheus Fernandes estreou: confira quem ainda não jogou no Palmeiras" [Matheus Fernandes debuted: know who did not play at Palmeiras yet] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Lance!. 3 May 2019. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  8. ^ "Matheus Fernandes completa la plantilla" [Matheus Fernandes completes the squad] (in Spanish). Real Valladolid. 31 January 2020. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  9. ^ "Matheus casi marca en su debut con el Valladolid" [Matheus nearly scores in his debut with Valladolid] (in Spanish). Mundo Deportivo. 22 June 2020. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  10. ^ "Agreement with Palmeiras for the transfer of Matheus Fernandes The Brazilian player will join FC Barcelona on 1 July 2020". FC Barcelona. 31 January 2020. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  11. ^ "Dynamo Kyiv 0-4 FC Barcelona: Into the last sixteen!". FC Barcelona. 24 November 2020. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
  12. ^ "FC Barcelona win their 31st Copa del Rey title". FC Barcelona. 17 April 2021. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
  13. ^ "Matheus Fernandes' contract terminated". FC Barcelona. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  14. ^ "MATHEUS FERNANDES ACERTA RETORNO AO PALMEIRAS: 'SEMPRE FOI MINHA PRIORIDADE'". palmeiras.com.br (in Portuguese). 9 July 2021. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
  15. ^ Matheus Fernandes at Soccerway. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  16. ^ "Copa del Rey champions!". FC Barcelona. 17 April 2021. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
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