Túlio de Melo

Túlio de Melo

Personal information
Full name	Túlio Vinícius Fróes de Melo
Date of birth	31 January 1985 (1985-01-31)
Place of birth	Montes Claros, Brazil
Height	1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)
Playing position	Striker
Club information
Current club	Lille
Number	9
Youth career
	Atlético Mineiro
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2003–2005	Atlético Mineiro	0	(0)
2004–2005	→ AaB (loan)	19	(6)
2005–2008	Le Mans	72	(22)
2008	Palermo	0	(0)
2008–	Lille	57	(12)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of May 29, 2011. † Appearances (Goals).

Túlio Vinícius Fróes de Melo (born 31 January 1985 in Montes Claros), commonly known as Túlio de Melo, is a Brazilian football striker who currently plays for Lille OSC in the French Ligue 1.

Career

Early career & Breakthrough (2003–08)

Túlio de Melo started his career with Atlético Mineiro, and moved to Europe in 2004 to join Danish top flight team Aalborg BK on loan. In 2005 he signed a three-year contract with French club Le Mans, where he gained a reputation as a powerful striker with the ability to lob keepers of international class from range. His impressive performances in the first half of the 2007–08 season (10 goals in 19 matches) caused interest from higher level teams, namely Serie A clubs Palermo and Parma. His name later caused controversy between these teams as it appeared he actually signed contracts with both clubs, but eventually it was Palermo who finalized his signing.

Palermo & Lille (2008–present)

He joined the Rosanero on July 2008, but he was soon listed for transfer by the club, and managed only to play 45 minutes in a Coppa Italia match, a 2–1 home loss to Ravenna.

On August 31, 2008 Ligue 1 club Lille OSC announced to have completed the signing of Túlio de Melo from Palermo.

External links

• Official website
• AaB profile
• sambafoot
• CBF
• lequipe
• Túlio de Melo French league stats at LFP.fr (French)