Luis Muriel
Who was Luis Muriel?
Colombian forward who has played for clubs including Sampdoria, Sevilla, and Atalanta, known for his clinical finishing.
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Luis Muriel (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Luis Fernando Muriel Fruto was born on April 16, 1991, in Santo Tomás, Colombia. He started his professional football career with Deportivo Cali and then moved to Europe to play for Italian club Udinese. During his early years in Italy, he was loaned to Granada in Spain and Lecce in Italy, helping him improve his skills through different leagues. In 2012, Muriel came back to Udinese and made a big impact, winning the Serie A Best Young Revelation award alongside Stephan El Shaarawy and becoming one of the most promising young talents in Italian football.
After scoring 15 league goals in 57 appearances for Udinese, Muriel moved to Sampdoria in January 2015. During his two and a half seasons with the Genoese club, he showed his ability to score by netting 21 goals in 79 league games. His steady performance attracted the attention of Spanish club Sevilla, who signed him in 2017. However, he faced challenges in Spain and was loaned to Fiorentina in January 2019 to get his career back on track in Italy.
Muriel's career took off when he joined Atalanta in June 2019 for about €18 million. His first season with the Bergamo club was remarkable, as he scored 18 league goals and played a key role in helping Atalanta qualify for the UEFA Champions League for the first time. The next season was even better, with Muriel finishing as the third-highest goalscorer in Serie A, just behind Cristiano Ronaldo and Romelu Lukaku. His amazing performances helped Atalanta qualify for the Champions League again and earned him a spot in the 2020-21 Serie A Team of the Year.
Internationally, Muriel has been a regular for the Colombian national team since his senior debut in June 2012 against Ecuador in a World Cup qualifying match. He scored his first international goal the next year against Guatemala. Muriel has taken part in major tournaments including the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia and three Copa América editions in 2015, 2019, and 2021, aiding Colombia's efforts in both South American and global competitions. He currently plays for Junior, a club in Colombia's Categoría Primera A, having returned to his home country after a successful career in Europe.
Before Fame
Growing up in Santo Tomás, a town in the Atlántico Department of Colombia, Muriel honed his football skills when Colombian football was gaining international recognition. The late 2000s and early 2010s saw Colombian players making successful transitions to European leagues, following stars like Carlos Valderrama and Faustino Asprilla.
Muriel's rise began with Deportivo Cali, one of Colombia's most well-known clubs, where he developed as a forward before catching the eye of European teams. His move to Udinese was part of a trend where Italian clubs were increasingly scouting South American talent, especially from Colombia, given their technical skills and ability to adapt to European football.
Key Achievements
- Serie A Best Young Revelation award winner (2012)
- Third-highest goalscorer in Serie A (2020-21 season)
- Inclusion in Serie A Team of the Year (2020-21)
- Helped Atalanta achieve first-ever UEFA Champions League qualification
- Represented Colombia in 2018 FIFA World Cup and three Copa América tournaments
Did You Know?
- 01.Won the Serie A Best Young Revelation award in 2012 alongside AC Milan's Stephan El Shaarawy
- 02.Finished as the third-highest goalscorer in Serie A behind Cristiano Ronaldo and Romelu Lukaku during the 2020-21 season
- 03.Helped Atalanta qualify for the UEFA Champions League for the first time in the club's 113-year history
- 04.Made his international debut in a World Cup qualifier against Ecuador in June 2012
- 05.Was included in the 2020-21 Serie A Team of the Year following his exceptional goal-scoring record