Marcelo Flores Explained

Marcelo Flores
Fullname:Marcelo Flores Dorrell
Birth Date:1 October 2003
Birth Place:Georgetown, Ontario, Canada
Height:1.71 m
Position:Attacking midfielder, winger
Currentclub:UANL
Clubnumber:24
Youthclubs1:Guelph SC
Youthyears2:2016–2019
Youthclubs2:Ipswich Town
Youthyears3:2019–2022
Youthclubs3:Arsenal
Years1:2022–2023
Clubs1:Arsenal
Caps1:0
Goals1:0
Years2:2022–2023
Clubs2:Real Oviedo (loan)
Caps2:13
Goals2:0
Years3:2023–
Clubs3:Tigres UANL
Caps3:28
Goals3:7
Club-Update:20 July 2024
Nationalyears1:2019
Nationalteam1:Mexico U16
Nationalcaps1:5
Nationalgoals1:1
Nationalyears2:2021
Nationalteam2:Mexico U20
Nationalcaps2:6
Nationalgoals2:2
Nationalyears3:2023–
Nationalteam3:Mexico U23
Nationalcaps3:5
Nationalgoals3:0
Nationalyears4:2021–
Nationalteam4:Mexico
Nationalcaps4:3
Nationalgoals4:0
Nationalteam-Update:1 October 2023

Marcelo Flores Dorrell (born 1 October 2003) is a professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder or winger for Liga MX club Tigres UANL. Born in Canada, he plays for the Mexico national team.

Early life

Flores was born in Canada to a Canadian mother of English descent and Mexican former footballer, Rubén Flores. He was raised in Georgetown, Ontario.[1] As his father was the manager of the Cayman Islands women's national football team, Flores spent some time on the islands, where he was invited to a training camp by Ipswich Town youth development coach Steve Foley.[2] He impressed during the week long camp, and joined the Ipswich Town academy.[3]

In 2019, Flores joined the Arsenal academy on a free transfer.[3] He made a bright start to the 2020–21 campaign with Arsenal's under-18s, scoring three goals in two games.[4]

Club career

Arsenal

After training with the first team, he signed his first professional contract in October 2020.[5] [6] [7] Shortly after, he was included in The Guardian's "Next Generation 2020", highlighting the best young players in the world.[8] He was called up to the Arsenal first team for the first time on April 4, 2022, making the bench for their match against Crystal Palace, although he did not appear in the match as a substitute.[9] [10] [11]

Loan to Real Oviedo

On 20 July 2022, Flores joined Segunda División club Real Oviedo on a season-long loan.[12] On 15 August 2022, he made his professional debut in a league match against FC Andorra in a 1–0 loss, coming on as a substitute.[13]

Tigres UANL

On 10 September 2023, UANL reached an agreement with Arsenal to sign Flores.[14]

International career

Flores was eligible to play for either Canada, England or Mexico. He was first called up to the England under-16 side in 2019,[15] but decided to join up with the Mexico under-16 team that same year, playing every game at the Montaigu Tournament.[16]

In December 2020, Flores accepted a call up to a Canada camp that would take place in January 2021,[17] but later pulled out to remain with Arsenal.[18] On 18 June 2021, Flores was named to Canada's provisional 60-man squad for the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup.[19]

In September 2021, Flores featured for Mexico's under-20 side in a double-header against Spain.[20] In November, Flores was called up by Luis Ernesto Pérez to participate at the 2021 Revelations Cup, scoring two goals in three appearances, where Mexico won the competition.[21] Later that month, senior national team manager Gerardo Martino expressed the possibility of calling up Flores for the friendly match against Chile on 8 December.[22] On 29 November, Arsenal confirmed that Flores had received his first senior call up.[23]

Flores eventually made his senior national team debut in a friendly match against Chile, making his debut as an 83rd-minute substitute in the 2–2 draw.[24] In May 2022, Flores committed to representing Mexico internationally, as he was still eligible to switch to representing Canada or England, having only participated in friendlies.[25] On June 11, he appeared in a 2022–23 CONCACAF Nations League match against Suriname, officially cap tying him to Mexico.[26]

Personal life

His two sisters, Silvana and Tatiana, are also footballers, and both moved from Arsenal to Chelsea in the summer of 2020.[5] [27] [28]

Career statistics

Club

ClubSeasonLeagueNational cupContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Arsenal U212021–221111
2023–241010
Total2121
Real Oviedo (loan)2022–2313020150
Tigres UANL2023–242563110297
2024–25Liga MX31000031
Total2873110328
Career total417203131499

International

National team Year Apps Goals
Mexico2021 1 0
2022 2 0
Total 3 0

Honours

Mexico U20

2021[29]

Tigres UANL

2023

Individual

Notes and References

  1. News: UPDATE: Five 'Caps called up to Canada's men's national team camp. January 8, 2021. Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
  2. Web site: Chance meeting in Cayman Islands resulted in Ipswich Town signing Canadian wonderkid, Marcelo Flores. Chris. Brammer. 25 January 2017. 9 October 2020. East Anglian Daily Times.
  3. Web site: Arsenal's rising star Marcelo Flores: Described as the Canadian Craig Bellamy by man who discovered him. Lee. Hurley. 1 October 2020. 9 October 2020. Daily Cannon.
  4. Web site: Marcelo Flores, otra apuesta mexicana del Arsenal. Marcelo Flores, another Mexican prospect from Arsenal. 1 October 2020. 9 October 2020. Marca. Spanish.
  5. Web site: El mexicano Marcelo Flores entrenó con el primer equipo del Arsenal. Mexican Marcelo Flores trains with the Arsenal first team. 8 September 2020. 9 October 2020. Fox Sports. Spanish.
  6. Web site: Arsenal prospect Flores trains with first team, leaning towards Mexico. 8 September 2020. 9 October 2020. ESPN. Tom. Marshall.
  7. Web site: El Arsenal hace oficial el contrato profesional de Marcelo Flores. Arsenal make Marcelo Flores' professional contract official. 6 October 2020. 9 October 2020. Marca. Spanish.
  8. Web site: Next Generation 2020: 60 of the best young talents in world football . 8 October 2020 . 9 October 2020 . The Guardian. Marcus. Christenson. Jim. Powell. Garry. Blight.
  9. Web site: Who is Marcelo Flores? Meet the Arsenal wonderkid set for his Premier League debut. April 4, 2022. Patrick. Austen-Hardy. Daily Mirror.
  10. Web site: Marcelo Flores’ father confirms Arsenal youngster is in squad to face Crystal Palace. April 4, 2022. Metro.
  11. Web site: Marcelo Flores se queda en la banca en derrota del Arsenal ante Crystal Palace. Marcelo Flores remains on the bench in Arsenal's defeat against Crystal Palace. Rubén. Sáinz. es. TUDN.
  12. Web site: Marcelo Flores Signs for Real Oviedo. Real Oviedo. 20 July 2022.
  13. Web site: Así fue el debut de Marcelo Flores y Alonso Aceves con el Real Oviedo. TV Azteca. 9 September 2022. 15 August 2022.
  14. Web site: Marcelo Flores joins Club Tigres UANL. Arsenal Football Club. 10 September 2023.
  15. Web site: ¡Se quieren llevar a Marcelo Flores! Inglaterra y Canadá tientan a la joya mexicana. They want to take Marcelo Flores! England and Canada tempt the Mexican jewel. 8 October 2020. 9 October 2020. Medio Tiempo. es.
  16. Web site: Exclusive: Marcelo Flores on joining Arsenal's academy, the Montaigu Tournament and his international future. Dan. Critchlow. 27 April 2019. 9 October 2020. Daily Cannon.
  17. Web site: Canada men's national has invited Arsenal youngster Marcelo Flores. December 24, 2020. Diario AS.
  18. Web site: U.K.-based players won't travel to Canadian men's camp. January 12, 2021. Peter. Galindo. Sportsnet.
  19. Web site: CONCACAF Gold Cup Provisional Rosters Confirmed. June 18, 2021. Canadian Soccer Association.
  20. Web site: Mexico sub-20 with Marcelo Flores Falls Again to Spain. 5 September 2021. 6 October 2021. Action Push. Jason. Nelson.
  21. Web site: Mexico to host U20 Revelations Cup Tournament. 9 November 2021. 22 November 2021. FMF State of Mind.
  22. Web site: MÉXICO 'Tata' Martino contempla tres debuts ante Chile: Marcelo Flores, David Ochoa y Julián Araujo. November 27, 2021 . TUDN. Kevin R.. Yu. 'Tata' Martino contemplates three debuts against Chile: Marcelo Flores, David Ochoa and Julián Araujo. es.
  23. Web site: Arsenal confirmó convocatoria de Marcelo Flores al Tri mayor. November 29, 2021. ESPN Deportes. Arsenal confirmed the call of Marcelo Flores to the senior Tri. es.
  24. Web site: Chile empaña el debut de Marcelo Flores y México cierra un 2021 para el olvido. Marca. Chile tarnishes the debut of Marcelo Flores and Mexico closes 2021 for oblivion. es. December 8, 2021.
  25. Web site: Arsenal's Marcelo Flores chooses to represent Mexico over Canada internationally. Joshua. Kloke. May 16, 2022. The Athletic.
  26. Web site: Arsenal 18yo makes competitive international debut, misses penalty. Dan. Critchlow. Daily Cannon. June 12, 2022.
  27. Web site: Who is Marcelo Flores? The Arsenal wonderkid who could become part of Arteta's future plans. Rob. Guest. 13 June 2020. 9 October 2020. Football.London.
  28. Web site: Who are Silvana and Tatiana Flores the Mexicans who will play for Chelsea. 4 June 2020. 9 October 2020. EN24.
  29. Web site: Mexico wins Revelation Cup after win over the United States. FMF State of Mind. 18 November 2021. 22 November 2021.
  30. Web site: Marcelo Flores es elegido Mejor Jugador de la Revelations Cup. Superlider. 17 November 2021. 22 November 2021. Rafael. Martínez. es. Marcelo Flores is named Best Player of the Revelations Cup.