# Gabriel Meli

Gabriel Manuel Meli (born 5 February 1999) is an Italian professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Serie C Group C club Messina.

## 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 appearances, 6 goals conceded and 2 clean sheet, however at the end of the season Rimini was relegated in Serie D.

#### Loan to Fano

On 21 August 2020, Meli was signed by Serie C club Alma Juventus Fano on a season-long loan deal. On 27 September he made his league debut for the club in a 2–2 away draw against Perugia. Ten days later, on 7 October, Meli kept his first clean sheet for the club in a 0–0 away draw against Carpi. On 11 November he kept his second clean sheet for the club in a 0–0 away draw against Fermana and four weeks later his third clean sheet with another 0–0 away draw against Vis Pesaro. He lost the role of starting goalkeeper to Aniello Viscovo in the second half of the season. Meli ended his season-long loan to Fano with 17 appearances, all in the first part of the season, 23 goals conceded and 4 clean sheet.

#### Loan to Südtirol

On 27 July 2021, he was loaned to Serie C club Südtirol.

#### Loan to Recanatese

On 25 January 2023, Meli moved to Serie C club Recanatese on loan.

### Taranto

On 20 August 2024, Meli signed a one-year deal with Taranto.

## International career

Meli was part of the Italy squad at the 2016 UEFA European Under-17 Championship, but stayed on the bench in all games behind the first-choice goalkeeper Alessandro Plizzari.

## Career statistics
### Club

    As of 18 July 2021
| Club | Season | League | League | League | Cup | Cup | Europe | Europe | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | League | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Pistoiese (loan) | 2018–19 | Serie C | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 21 | 0 |
| Rimini (loan) | 2019–20 | Serie C | 5 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 0 |
| Fano (loan) | 2020–21 | Serie C | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 17 | 0 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 43 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 43 | 0 |

## Honours
### Club

Empoli
* Serie B: 2017–18