Rafael Werneck
|
Werneck with the Bayern Munich World Squad | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Rafael Ribeiro Werneck Matta | ||
| Date of birth | 18 January 2005 | ||
| Place of birth | Brasília, Brazil | ||
| Position | Defender | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team |
A'Ali (on loan from Sitra Club) | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2018–2021 | Cruzeiro | ||
| 2021 | Atlético Mineiro | ||
| 2022 | Corinthians | ||
| 2023 | Avaí | ||
| 2024–2025 | Sfera | ||
| 2025 | Guarani | ||
| 2025–2026 | São Bento | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2026– | Sitra Club | ||
| 2026– | → A'Ali (loan) | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 18 January 2026 | |||
Rafael Ribeiro Werneck Matta (born 18 January 2005) is a Brazilian footballer who currently plays as a defender for Bahraini club A'Ali, on loan from fellow Bahraini club Sitra Club.
Career
In July 2021, after three-and-a-half years with Cruzeiro, Werneck signed for Atlético Mineiro.[1] The following year he signed for Corinthians, where he won the Paulista Cup Sub-17 in his one and only season with the club.[2][3] Having signed for Avaí in 2023,[4] he applied to German club Bayern Munich's World Squad initiative – a programme for international players under the age of nineteen to represent the club in friendlies. After two months in Germany, where he featured six times for the World Squad, he returned to Brazil with Sfera.[5]
Named captain of Sfera, he helped the team compete in their debut Copinha campaign, where they were the youngest team competing in 2024.[6] He was lauded for his performances in Brazilian media, with Portuguese club Famalicão reportedly making an offer for him.[7][8] At the 2024 under-20 Paulista Cup, Werneck was part of a Sfera defence ranked fifth out of 69 clubs, as they reached the second phase for the first time in the club's history.[9] He signed his first professional contract with Sfera in November 2024.[10]
In March 2025, Werneck left Sfera – the club he had captained at under-20 level – to join Guarani.[11] However, in October of the same year, he joined São Bento. In February 2026 he moved to Bahrain, signing with Sitra Club and immediately being loaned to A'Ali on a deal until the end of May 2026.
References
- ^ "Rafael Werneck deixa Cruzeiro e assina contrato de formação com o Atlético-MG" [Rafael Werneck leaves Cruzeiro and signs a youth contract with Atlético-MG]. Un1que Football (in Portuguese). 21 July 2021. Retrieved 18 January 2026.
- ^ "Rafael Werneck assina contrato de formação com o Corinthians" [Rafael Werneck signs youth contract with Corinthians]. Un1que Football (in Portuguese). 28 March 2022. Retrieved 18 January 2026.
- ^ "Luiz Gustavo e Rafael Werneck conquistam a Paulista Cup Sub-17" [Luiz Gustavo and Rafael Werneck win the Paulista Cup Sub-17]. Un1que Football (in Portuguese). 28 March 2022. Retrieved 18 January 2026.
- ^ Colesanti, Bruno Rys (9 January 2025). "TSP Exclusiva: Rafael Werneck é destaque do Sfera na Copinha" [TSP Exclusive: Rafael Werneck is a standout player for Sfera in the Copinha (São Paulo Junior Cup)]. Tudo Sobre Paulista (in Portuguese). Retrieved 18 January 2026.
- ^ "Rafael Werneck volta ao Brasil após passagem pelo Bayern de Munique" [Rafael Werneck returns to Brazil after a spell at Bayern Munich]. Esporte News Mundo (in Portuguese). 23 November 2023. Retrieved 18 January 2026.
- ^ "Com passagem pelo Bayern de Munique, zagueiro de 18 anos é a esperança de time caçula da Copinha" [Having previously played for Bayern Munich, the 18-year-old defender is the hope of the youngest team in the Copinha (São Paulo Junior Cup)]. Globo Esporte (in Portuguese). 2 January 2024. Retrieved 18 January 2026.
- ^ Henriques, Bruno (2 February 2024). "Rafael Werneck: Um dos destaques da Copinha por quem o Famalicão fez proposta" [Rafael Werneck: One of the standout players in the Copinha (São Paulo Junior Cup) for whom Famalicão made an offer]. FlashScore (in Portuguese). Retrieved 18 January 2026.
- ^ França, Izabelle (2 February 2024). "Destaque em time estreante na Copinha, Rafael Werneck celebra boa fase no campo e comenta sobre seu futuro" [A standout player for a debuting team in the Copinha (São Paulo Junior Cup), Rafael Werneck celebrates his good form on the field and comments on his future]. Vavel (in Portuguese). Retrieved 18 January 2026.
- ^ "Zagueiro ex-Bayern de Munique disputará segunda fase da Paulista Cup" [Former Bayern Munich defender will compete in the second phase of the Paulista Cup]. IG Sports (in Portuguese). 1 November 2024. Retrieved 18 January 2026.
- ^ "Sfera firma contrato de zagueiro com passagem pelo Bayern de Munique" [Sfera signs contract for defender who previously played for Bayern Munich]. Futebol Interior (in Portuguese). 19 November 2024.
- ^ Cunha, Anthony (10 March 2025). "Guarani acerta a contratação do zagueiro Rafael Werneck para o Sub-20" [Guarani finalizes the signing of defender Rafael Werneck for the U-20 team]. Futebol Interior (in Portuguese). Retrieved 18 January 2026.