Gabriel Meli

Gabriel Manuel Meli (born 5 February 1999) is an Italian professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Serie C club Sudtirol, on loan from Empoli.

Club Career

Empoli

Meli is a youth product of Empoli youth system. He made his first appearance for the team as an un-used substitute for the last matches of the 2015–16 season, he made also other bench appearances in the 2016–17 and 2017–18 seasons, but he never appeared on the field. Meli also won the 2017–18 Serie B title.

Loan to Pistoiese

On 18 July 2018, Meli was loaned to Serie C club Pistoiese on a 2-year loan deal. On 26 September he made his professional debut in Serie C debut for Pistoiese in a 3–3 away draw against Pro Piacenza. On 3 November he kept his first clean sheet for Pistoiese in a 0–0 home draw against Alessandria. He became Pistoiese's first-choice early in the season. Eight days later, he kept his second consecutive clean sheet in a 0–0 away draw against Cuneo. One week later, on 18 November, he kept his third clean sheet in a 2–0 home win over Piacenza. However he became the second goalkeeper behind Jacopo Pagnini in the second part of the season. Meli ended his season-long loan to Pistoiese with 21 appearances, 5 clean sheets and 27 goals conceded. Empoli recalled him from loan early, at the end of the first season.

Loan to Rimini

After remaining an unused goalkeeper in the first part of the season, on 21 January 2020, Meli was loaned to Serie C club Rimini on loan until the end of the season. Five days later, on 26 January, Meli made his debut for Rimini in a 3–1 home defeat against Vicenza Virtus. He became Rimini's first-choice goalkeeper in the second part season. Three weeks later, on 15 February, he kept his first clean sheet for the club in a 2–0 home win over Modena and one more week later, on 22 February, he kept his second clean sheet in a 0–0 away draw against Virtus Verona. Meli ended his 6-month loan to Rimini with only 5 ap