General
- Friday January 5th, 2024 @ 18:45
Pitaluga Joins On Loan From Liverpool
The St Patrick's Athletic squad continues to take shape with the addition of goalkeeper Marcelo Pitaluga on loan from Liverpool FC.
The 21-year-old Brazilian is the sixth new addition to Jon Daly's squad ahead of the beginning of the new League of Ireland campaign next month.
Pitaluga was born in Niteroi, Rio de Janeiro on December 20th 2002.
He spent his youth career in his homeland with Vasco Da Gama before 10 years with Fluminense.
Marcelo was in the Brazil squad that won the FIFA U17 World Cup in November 2019, Brazil beat Mexico 2-1 in the final to claim victory on home soil.
The goalkeeper joined Liverpool in October 2020, aged just 17.
Pitaluga is the second goalkeeper to join us on loan from Liverpool in recent years, following in the footsteps of VÃtezslav Jaros, who had a hugely successful spell with us for the 2021 season, where he helped the Saints to the FAI Cup, before returning to Merseyside.
Since joining The Reds, Pitaluga has played regularly in the LFC Academy and for the club's U21 and U23 sides and has been on the bench for the first team on seven occasions as well as featuring for Liverpool in a pre-season friendly last summer.
Pitaluga signed a new contract extension at Anfield before completing his loan deal to Inchicore.
The 6'4" shot-stopper spent time on loan Macclesfield FC during the 2022/23 EFL season, making 17 appearances, before returning to Liverpool.
We spoke to Marcelo shortly after he put pen to paper at Richmond Park:
"It feels amazing to have joined St Pat's, it's going to be a really big season and I can't wait.
The Liverpool goalkeeper coach spoke to me about the possibility a few weeks ago, I heard many good things about St Patrick's and the League of Ireland from Vitezslav Jaros and also spoke to Jon (Daly) and PJ (Pat Jennings), I think it will be really good for my career so I decided to come here.
Viet had many great things to say about the club and about the fans, the staff here, Pat Jennings is still here which is absolutely fantastic for me also.
I watched clips of St Pat's online and I watched the FAI Cup final too which looked like an unbelievable experience for everyone, that played a part in my decision too so I'm looking forward to starting the season."
Watch the full interview on our YouTube.
Manager Jon Daly has been welcoming his newest recruit:
"We're really pleased to welcome Marcelo to the club and are looking forward to working with him.
He is an excellent young goalkeeper, who we feel will improve our squad.
Marcelo is someone who we've been monitoring for quite a while, we have met with him a number of times and been over to watch him train and play.
He's coming from one of the biggest clubs in the world and has been training and playing at a really high level, we're looking forward to getting him involved with the team and helping him settle into the group ahead of the new season."
Pitaluga will wear the number 13 shirt at Richmond Park.
The first photos of Marcelo as a St Patrick's Athletic player are available via Sportsfile.
