Miguel Ángel Merentiel Serrano (born 24 February 1996) is a Uruguayan professional footballer who plays as a forward for Argentine Primera División club Boca Juniors and the Uruguay national team.[2][3]
Born in Paysandú, Merentiel is a Peñarol youth academy graduate. On 9 January 2017, he was loaned to fellow Uruguayan Primera División club El Tanque Sisley for six months.[4]
Merentiel made his professional debut on 19 February 2017, starting in a 4–3 away loss to Cerro.[5] He scored his first goal seven days later, netting the first in a 2–1 away win against Liverpool Montevideo.[6] On 12 March, he scored a brace in a 2–1 win against Montevideo Wanderers.[7]
On 3 August 2017, Merentiel moved abroad for the first time in his career, after agreeing to a one-year loan deal with Segunda División side Lorca FC.[8] The following 31 January, his loan was cut short.[9]
In January 2019, Merentiel was signed by Argentine club Godoy Cruz for a fee around 175.000 euros.[10] On 10 September 2020, he was loaned out to Defensa y Justicia until the end of 2021 with a purchase option.[11] On 2 January 2022, Defensa triggered the option and signed him on a permanently contract until the end of 2024.[12]
On May 18, 2022, Merentiel signed a four-year contract with Palmeiras.[13] In January 2023, he was loaned to Argentine club Boca Juniors with a trade option of US$3 million.[14] On 10 November 2023, Boca used the purchase option.[15]
In September 2024, Merentiel received his first call-up to the Uruguay national team for FIFA World Cup qualification matches against Paraguay and Venezuela.[16] He debuted against the latter on 10 September 2024 at the Estadio Monumental de Maturín. He substituted Maximiliano Araújo at half-time as the game ended scoreless.[17]
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uruguay | 2024 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 1 | 0 | |
Defensa y Justicia
Palmeiras
Boca Juniors
