Marcelo Torrez

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Torrez and the second or maternal family name is Contreras.
Marcelo Torrez
Personal information
Full name Marcelo Jesús Torrez Contreras
Date of birth (2006-07-08) 8 July 2006 (age 18)
Place of birth Villamontes, Bolivia
Height 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s) Centre-back
Team information
Current team
 Santos U20
Youth career
Atlético Pilcomayo
2020–2022 Proyecto Bolivia 2022
2022– Santos
International career‡
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2023 Bolivia U17 4 (1)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 21:25, 27 August 2024 (UTC)

Marcelo Jesús Torrez Contreras (born 8 July 2006) is a Bolivian professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for the under-20 team of Brazilian club Santos and the Bolivia national team.[1]

Club career

Born in Villamontes, Tarija,[2] Torrez began his career with local side Club Atlético Pilcomayo before joining Proyecto Bolivia 2022, a project created to encourage the development of young Bolivian men's footballers, in 2020.[3] In 2021, he went on a trial at Santos, subsequently joining the club in the following year but being unable to sign a contract due to the FIFA rules over underage players.[4][5]

Torrez signed his first professional contract with Santos on 17 July 2024, shortly after his 18th birthday.[6]

International career

Torrez represented the Bolivia national under-17 team at the 2023 South American U-17 Championship, making four appearances and scoring once in a 3–1 loss to Paraguay; he was also team captain of the side in the tournament.[2] On 19 August 2024, he was called up to the Bolivia national under-19 team for a period of trainings.[7]

On 23 August 2024, Torrez was included in Óscar Villegas' first call-up to the full side for two 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Venezuela and Chile.[8][9]

References

  1. ^ Marcelo Torrez at Soccerway. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Torrez, el villamontino del Santos y capitán de la Verde Sub-17" [Torrez, the villamontino from Santos and captain of la Verde under-17s] (in Spanish). El País. 3 April 2023. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  3. ^ "Quién es Marcelo Torrez, el boliviano que es capitán en el Santos de Pelé y Neymar" [Who is Marcelo Torrez, the Bolivian who is a captain at Pelé and Neymar's Santos] (in Spanish). RedUno. 22 July 2024. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  4. ^ "Novo Miguelito? Boliviano do Santos é destaque na primeira rodada do Sul-Americano sub-17" [New Miguelito? Santos' Bolivian is a spotlight in the first round of the South American Under-17] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Gazeta Esportiva. 2 April 2023. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  5. ^ "Marcelo Torrez: "Mis compatriotas en Santos son una gran ayuda"" [Marcelo Torrez: "My compatriots at Santos are of great help"] (in Spanish). El País. 18 June 2022. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  6. ^ "Parceiro de Miguelito e Enzo, defensor boliviano Marcelo Torrez assina com o Santos" [Partner of Miguelito and Enzo, Bolivian defender Marcelo Torrez signs with Santos] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Diário do Peixe. 17 July 2024. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  7. ^ "Defensor da base do Santos é convocado pela Seleção Boliviana Sub-19" [Defender of Santos' youth setup is called up for the Bolivia national under-19 team] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Diário do Peixe. 19 August 2024. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  8. ^ "Villegas mezcla experiencia y juventud y presenta tres novedades en la Verde" [Villegas mixes experience and youth and present three news at la Verde] (in Spanish). Los Tiempos. 23 August 2024. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  9. ^ "El villamontino Torrez recibe su primera citación a la selección mayor" [The villamontino Torrez receives his first call-up to the senior national team] (in Spanish). El País. 23 August 2024. Retrieved 27 August 2024.