Léo Natel Explained

Léo Natel
Full Name:Leonardo Natel Vieira
Birth Date:14 March 1997
Birth Place:Porto Alegre, Brazil
Height:1.79 m
Position:Winger
Currentclub:Corinthians
Youthyears1:2015–2016
Youthclubs1:Benfica
Youthyears2:2016–2017
Youthclubs2:São Paulo (loan)
Years1:2017–2020
Clubs1:São Paulo
Caps1:1
Goals1:0
Years2:2018
Clubs2:Fortaleza (loan)
Caps2:13
Goals2:2
Years3:2018–2019
Clubs3:APOEL (loan)
Caps3:26
Goals3:8
Years4:2020–
Clubs4:Corinthians
Caps4:46
Goals4:4
Years5:2021–2022
Clubs5:APOEL (loan)
Caps5:24
Goals5:4
Years6:2022–2023
Clubs6:Casa Pia (loan)
Caps6:4
Goals6:0
Years7:2023–2024
Clubs7:Melbourne City (loan)
Caps7:24
Goals7:6
Club-Update:16 May 2024

Leonardo Natel Vieira (born 14 March 1997), mainly known as Léo Natel, is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a winger for Corinthians.

Career

São Paulo

Born in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Natel started his youth career with the academy of Portuguese club Benfica. In July 2016, he was loaned out to São Paulo back in his home country, being initially assigned to the under-20 squad.[1] He won the Copa do Brasil Sub-20 and the Campeonato Brasileiro Sub-20 with the category in that season, being named the best player of the latter competition.[2]

On 14 March 2017, Natel was called to the senior team by head coach Rogério Ceni for a Copa do Brasil match against ABC.[3] On 27 May, he signed permanently with Tricolor for a fee of €135,000.[4]

Natel made his first team – and Série A – debut on 4 June 2017, coming on as a late substitute for Marcinho in a 1–0 defeat against Ponte Preta.[5]

Fortaleza (loan)

On 9 December 2017, Natel was loaned out to Fortaleza for one year.[6] He made his club debut on 17 January 2018, starting in a 4–0 Campeonato Cearense away routing of Uniclinic.[7]

Natel scored his first senior goal on 25 January 2018, netting Leãos third in a 3–1 home win over Iguatu.[8] On 2 May, despite being regularly used in the 2018 Cearense, his contract with Fortaleza was terminated.[9]

APOEL (loan)

On 14 June 2018, Natel moved abroad and was presented at Cypriot club APOEL on a season-long loan deal.[10] He scored 10 league goals during the campaign, as the club won the Cypriot First Division.[11]

Corinthians

In January 2020, after failing to appear for São Paulo after returning from loan, Natel agreed to a pre-contract with Corinthians, effective as of 1 July.[12] He was presented by his new club on 16 July,[13] and made his debut for the club on 2 August, replacing Mateus Vital late into a 1–0 Campeonato Paulsita home win over Mirassol.[14]

Natel scored his first goal for Timão on 19 August 2020, netting the opener in a 3–1 home win over Coritiba.[15] He featured regularly during the remainder of the year, scoring a further three goals.

APOEL return (loan)

On 31 August 2021, Natel returned to APOEL also on a one-year loan deal.[16] He was also a first-choice in his second spell, scoring six times and providing five assists, but was sent back to his parent club on 3 June 2022, after the club opted to not exercise his buyout clause.[17]

Casa Pia (loan)

Back to Corinthians, Natel was again included in the first team squad of the club in August 2022,[18] but was loaned to Portuguese Primeira Liga side Casa Pia late in the month.[19] In November, however, he suffered an ankle injury,[20] which led him to miss the remainder of the season.[21]

Natel officially returned from loan on 1 July 2023, after making just four matches.[22]

Melbourne City (loan)

On 12 September 2023, Natel was loaned to Melbourne City until June 2024.[23] Despite being regularly used and scoring six goals, he returned from loan in June 2024, after his buyout clause was not exercised.[24]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueState leagueCupContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
São Paulo2016[25] Série A007070
2017Série A1000001020
Total10008090
Fortaleza (loan)2018Série B101220000132
APOEL (loan)2018–19Cypriot First Division2684220003210
Corinthians2020Série A3142020354
2021Série A30903040190
2022Série A100010
Total3541105040554
APOEL (loan)2021–22Cypriot First Division24452296
Casa Pia (loan)2022–23Primeira Liga40000040
Melbourne City (loan)2023–24A-League Men246004010296
Career total115222321441009017128

Notes and References

  1. Web site: São Paulo acerta empréstimo do jovem Leonardo Natel, do Benfica. São Paulo agree loan of youngster Leonardo Natel, from Benfica. ge. pt-BR. 20 July 2016. 15 June 2024.
  2. Web site: Atacante do São Paulo, Léo Natel é escolhido melhor jogador do Sub-20. São Paulo forward, Léo Natel is chosen the best player of the under-20s. Futebol Interior. pt-BR. 19 December 2016. 15 June 2024.
  3. Web site: Benfica: Léo Natel chamado a equipa principal do São Paulo. Benfica: Léo Natel called up to the first team of São Paulo. Mais Futebol . 26 May 2018 . Portuguese . 14 March 2017.
  4. Web site: São Paulo exerce opção de compra e segura Léo Natel. São Paulo exercise buyout clause and keep Léo Natel. O Jogo. 26 May 2018 . Portuguese . 27 May 2017.
  5. Web site: Após estreia, Natel agradece confiança de Rogério. After debut, Natel thanks Rogério's trust. São Paulo FC . 1 June 2018 . pt-BR. 6 June 2017.
  6. Web site: Ceni indica e Fortaleza contrata atacante Léo Natel por empréstimo . Ceni indicates and Fortaleza sign forward Léo Natel on loan. Gazeta Esportiva . 26 May 2018 . pt-BR. 9 December 2017.
  7. Web site: Léo Natel fala sobre estreia e repete fala de Ceni: "Vamos continuar com pé no chão". Léo Natel talks about debut and repeats Ceni's talk: "We will remain with our feet on the ground". ge. pt-BR. 18 January 2018. 15 June 2024.
  8. Web site: Fortaleza vence o Iguatu de virada, segue 100% e assume a liderança do Estadual. Fortaleza defeat Iguatu with a comeback, remain 100% and take over the leadership of the state league. Diário do Nordeste. pt-BR. 25 January 2018. 15 June 2024.
  9. Web site: Léo Natel deixa o Fortaleza, de Ceni, e SP o negocia com time do Chipre . Léo Natel leaves Ceni's Fortaleza, and SP negotiate him with a team from Cyprus. UOL Esporte. 1 June 2018. pt-BR. 2 May 2018.
  10. Web site: Cria do São Paulo, Léo Natel é apresentado como reforço do Apoel. São Paulo youth graduate, Léo Natel is presented as an addition of APOEL. Lance!. pt-BR. 14 June 2018. 15 June 2024.
  11. Web site: Brasileiros do Apoel comemoram título conquistado no Chipre. Brazilians of APOEL celebrate title won in Cyprus. UOL Esporte. pt-BR. 9 May 2019. 15 June 2024.
  12. Web site: Corinthians assina pré-contrato com Léo Natel, do São Paulo. Corinthians sign pre-contract with Léo Natel, from São Paulo. TNT Sports. pt-BR. 16 January 2020. 15 June 2024.
  13. Web site: Léo Natel é apresentado pelo Corinthians e tenta se desvincular de passado no São Paulo. Léo Natel is presented by Corinthians and tries to let go of past at São Paulo. Gazeta Esportiva. pt-BR. 16 July 2020. 15 June 2024.
  14. Web site:
    1. SempreAcreditei: Corinthians vence Mirassol por 1 a 0 e vai à final do Paulistão pela 4ª vez consecutiva
    .
    1. IAlwaysBelieved: Corinthians defeat Mirassol by 1–0 and go to the final of the Paulistão for the 4th time in a row
    . SC Corinthians Paulista. pt-BR. 2 August 2020. 15 June 2024.
  15. Web site: Léo Natel comemora primeiro gol pelo Corinthians e comenta saída do São Paulo. Léo Natel celebrates first goal for Corinthians and talk about departure of São Paulo. Gazeta Esportiva. pt-BR. 20 August 2020. 15 June 2024.
  16. Web site: Corinthians empresta o atacante Léo Natel a clube do Chipre. Corinthians loan forward Léo Natel to Cypriot club. ge. pt-BR. 31 August 2021. 15 June 2024.
  17. Web site: Apoel se despede de Léo Natel e frustra o Corinthians. APOEL bid farewell from Léo Natel and frustrate Corinthians. ge. pt-BR. 3 June 2022. 15 June 2024.
  18. Web site: Léo Natel confirma retorno ao Corinthians em jogo contra o Fortaleza. Léo Natel confirms return to Corinthians in the match against Fortaleza. UOL Esporte. pt-BR. 20 August 2022. 15 June 2024.
  19. Web site: Corinthians conclui negociação por Léo Natel e mantém porcentagem em caso de venda futura. Corinthians finish negotiation for Léo Natel and keep percentage in case of future sale. Gazeta Esportiva. pt-BR. 27 August 2022. 15 June 2024.
  20. Web site: Atacante do Corinthians sofre lesão em Portugal, e clube pode perder bolada. Corinthians forward suffers injury in Portugal, and club may miss out on jackpot. Lance!. pt-BR. 8 November 2022. 15 June 2024.
  21. Web site: Lesão atrapalha meta com clube português, e Corinthians deixa de faturar bolada com Léo Natel. Injury hinders goal with Portuguese club, and Corinthians miss out on jackpot with Léo Natel. Lance!. pt-BR. 10 May 2023. 15 June 2024.
  22. Web site: Após empréstimo, Léo Natel volta ao Corinthians com futuro incerto. After loan, Léo Natel returns to Corinthians with an uncertain future. ge. pt-BR. 1 July 2023. 15 June 2024.
  23. Web site: Corinthians conclui transferência, e Léo Natel jogará em clube da Austrália. Corinthians conclude transfer, and Léo Natel will play in Australian club. ge. pt-BR. 12 September 2023. 15 June 2024.
  24. Web site: Léo Natel retorna ao Corinthians após sucesso na Austrália. Léo Natel returns to Corinthians after success in Australia. Apito Final. pt-BR. 6 June 2024. 15 June 2024.
  25. Web site: Leonardo Natel . Soccerway . 26 May 2018.