Mário Rui


Mário Rui Silva Duarte, known as Mário Rui, is a Portuguese footballer who plays as a left back for Italian club S.S.C. Napoli.
Formed at Benfica, he spent most of his professional career in Italy, representing Empoli, Roma and Napoli in the Serie A.
Mário Rui was part of the Portuguese squad at the 2018 World Cup.

Club career

Early years / Empoli

Born in Sines, Setúbal District, Mário Rui started his career at local Vasco da Gama Atlético Clube. He then played for the youth teams of Sporting CP, Valencia CF and S.L. Benfica, being signed by Parma F.C. in summer 2011 and being loaned immediately to fellow Italians A.S. Gubbio 1910; he joined the Serie B club following that year's FIFA U-20 World Cup, with the international transfer certificate arriving on 2 September.
In June 2012, Parma signed Mário Rui for €595,000 on a five-year contract, effectively on 1 July. Also that month, he joined Spezia Calcio on a temporary deal for free.
On 28 June 2013, Mário Rui moved to Empoli F.C. for €550,000. He contributed with 26 matches in his first season, as his new team returned to Serie A after a six-year absence.
In June 2014, Parma gave up the remaining 50% rights of Mário Rui to Empoli. He first appeared in the Italian top flight on 31 August, coming on as a 66th-minute substitute for Elseid Hysaj in a 0–2 away loss against Udinese Calcio.

Roma

On 8 July 2016, Mário Rui was signed by A.S. Roma in a temporary deal for a loan fee of €3 million, with a conditional obligation to sign him outright for an additional €6 million. He started the season injured, only making his debut on 19 January 2017 when he played 78 minutes in a 4–0 home win over U.C. Sampdoria for the Coppa Italia.

Napoli

On 13 July 2017, Mário Rui joined S.S.C. Napoli on an initial €3.75 million loan. Depending on the achievement of certain sporting targets, the club would have an obligation to buy him outright for a further €5.5 million. He scored his first goal in the Italian top division the following 10 February, helping the hosts defeat S.S. Lazio 4–1.

International career

Mário Rui earned 51 caps for Portugal, all youth levels comprised. During the 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup he appeared in five out of seven matches for the eventual finalists, scoring his only goal for his country in a 1–0 group stage win over New Zealand.
Mário Rui's debut with the under-21 team arrived on 5 September 2011, when he played the entirety of a 1–0 friendly defeat of France. In March 2018, he was called by full side manager Fernando Santos for exhibition games with Egypt and the Netherlands as a replacement for the injured Fábio Coentrão, making his debut against the latter by playing the full 90 minutes in the 0–3 loss in Switzerland.
Mário Rui was included in the final 23-man squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

Career statistics

Club

International

Honours

Club

Napoli
Portugal