1. Diego Tardelli was considered a dynamic player due to his speed on attack and individual skills.
23 Facts About Diego Tardelli
1. 2.
Diego Tardelli was loaned to Santos in 2000, but was released after trying to steal chocolate milk from the club's cafeteria.
3.
Diego Tardelli subsequently joined hometown side Uniao Barbarense, where he impressed enough to move to Sao Paulo in 2003.
4.
At the latter club, Diego Tardelli was initially known as Dinei, a former forward of Corinthians, as he painted his hair of a blond color.
5.
Diego Tardelli subsequently established himself as a regular starter but was separated from the squad in 2004 for 45 days after arriving late for a training session.
6.
Diego Tardelli returned to the squad after manager Cuca was replaced by Emerson Leao, and started the 2005 season with ten goals in the first ten matches of the club.
7.
Diego Tardelli was unable to establish himself as a first-choice, and was mainly a backup option to Souza and Obina.
8.
Diego Tardelli left Flamengo on 12 January 2009, and subsequently signed for fellow league team Atletico Mineiro.
9.
Diego Tardelli played his 100th match for the club on 30 October 2010, in a match against Botafogo.
10.
On 8 March 2011, Diego Tardelli completed a move to Russian side Anzhi Makhachkala following an in-depth medical examination at the Dagi's pre-season training base.
11.
Diego Tardelli started in only seven games during the whole campaign, and failed to find the net in his 13 appearances.
12.
Diego Tardelli was strongly linked with a move back to his homeland after struggling to adapt to life in Russia.
13.
On 10 January 2012, Diego Tardelli announced that he had put pen to paper on a two-and-a-half-year deal with Qatari side Al-Gharafa.
14.
On 18 January 2013, Diego Tardelli rejoined Atletico Mineiro on loan until the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
15.
Diego Tardelli was a regular starter for Galo during his first season, helping the club to a first-ever Copa Libertadores title and being the second-best goalscorer in the campaign with 18 goals, only one behind Jo.
16.
Diego Tardelli lifted the Recopa Sudamericana and the Copa do Brasil with the side in the following year, scoring goals in both tournaments' finals.
17.
On 17 January 2015, Diego Tardelli joined Chinese club Shandong Luneng.
18.
On 13 July 2015, Diego Tardelli scored two goals in a match against Shijiazhuang Ever Bright.
19.
On 12 February 2019, Diego Tardelli joined Brazilian club Gremio on a three-year contract.
20.
On 12 February 2020, Diego Tardelli joined Atletico Mineiro for the third time on a free transfer.
21.
On 23 August 2021, Diego Tardelli signed a contract with Santos until the end of the year, with an option to extend it for a further five months.
22.
Diego Tardelli was called up by Brazilian coach Dunga on 28 July 2009 for a friendly match against Estonia in Tallinn on 12 August.
23.
On 28 May 2015, Diego Tardelli was included in Brazil's 23-man squad for the 2015 Copa America by coach Dunga.