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.

Marcelo Flores
Personal information
Full name Marcelo Flores Dorrell
Date of birth (2003-10-01) 1 October 2003 (age 21)
Place of birth Georgetown, Ontario, Canada
Height 1.71 m (5 ft 7 in)
Position(s) Attacking midfielder, winger
Team information
Current team
UANL
Number 24
Youth career
Guelph SC
2016–2019 Ipswich Town
2019–2022 Arsenal
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2022–2023 Arsenal 0 (0)
2022–2023Real Oviedo (loan) 13 (0)
2023– Tigres UANL 30 (7)
International career
2019 Mexico U16 5 (1)
2021 Mexico U20 6 (2)
2023– Mexico U23 5 (0)
2021– Mexico 3 (0)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Mexico
Maurice Revello Tournament
Runner-up 2023 France
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23 August 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 1 October 2023

Early life

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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

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Arsenal

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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

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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

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

International career

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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] (however, he is still eligible to file a one-time switch as he meets requirements of no more than 3 caps which were earned before the age of 21).

Personal life

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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

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Club

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As of match played 17 July 2024[29]
Club Season League National cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Arsenal U21 2021–22 1[a] 1 1 1
2023–24 1[a] 0 1 0
Total 2 1 2 1
Real Oviedo (loan) 2022–23 Segunda División 13 0 2 0 15 0
Tigres UANL 2023–24 Liga MX 25 6 3[b] 1 1[c] 0 29 7
2024–25 Liga MX 3 1 0 0 0 0 3 1
Total 28 7 3 1 1 0 32 8
Career total 41 7 2 0 3 1 3 1 49 9
  1. ^ a b Appearances in the EFL Trophy
  2. ^ Appearances in CONCACAF Champions Cup
  3. ^ Appearance in Campeones Cup

International

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As of match played 11 June 2022[30]
National team Year Apps Goals
Mexico 2021 1 0
2022 2 0
Total 3 0

Honours

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Mexico U20

Tigres UANL

Individual

References

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