Santiago Andrés Mele Castañero (born 6 September 1997) is a Uruguayan professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for AFA Liga Profesional de Fútbol club Independiente, on loan from Liga MX club Monterrey, and the Uruguay national team.
Club career A youth academy graduate of Fénix, Mele made his professional debut on 30 August 2016 in a 1–0 loss against Cerro.
On 4 September 2017, Turkish top division club Osmanlıspor announced the signing of Mele on a five-year deal. He was immediately loaned out to second division club Ankaragücü for 2017–18 season. However, with Korcan Çelikay and Altay Bayındır ahead of him in pecking order, he didn't receive any playing minutes.Santiago Mele, atajando en la locura turca elobservador.com.uy
Mele's loan was cut short in following January and he subsequently got loaned out to Spanish third division side Lleida Esportiu. With Diego Rivas Rego as first-choice goalkeeper, Mele failed to find playing minutes again.
Two years after joining the club, Mele made his debut for Osmanlıspor on 17 August 2019 in a 2–1 win against Boluspor.
International career Mele is a former Uruguay youth international. He was part of Uruguay under-20 team which won the 2017 South American U-20 Championship and finished fourth at the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup. He was also part of the Uruguay under-22 team which finished fourth at the 2019 Pan American Games.
On 21 October 2022, Mele was named in Uruguay's 55-man preliminary squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. He made his senior team debut on 28 March 2023 in a 2–1 win against South Korea.
In June 2024, Mele was named in Uruguay's 26-man squad for the 2024 Copa América. On 31 May 2026, he was named in Uruguay's 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Career statistics Club
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueCupContinentalOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsFénix2013–14Uruguayan Primera División00———002014–15Uruguayan Primera División00———002015–16Uruguayan Primera División00———002016Uruguayan Primera División60———602017Uruguayan Primera División00———00Total60———60Osmanlıspor2018–19TFF First League0000—00002019–20TFF First League13000——130Total13000—00130Ankaragücü (loan)2017–18TFF First League0000——00Lleida Esportiu (loan)2017–18Segunda División B0000——00Plaza Colonia2020Uruguayan Primera División200—20—2202021Uruguayan Primera División200——10210Total400—2010430Unión (loan)2022Argentine Primera División22020701004102023Argentine Primera División16010——170Total3803070100580Atlético Junior (loan)2023Categoría Primera A20020——220Atlético Junior2024Categoría Primera A370108020480Career total1540601701301900
International
+ Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsUruguay202330202410202540202610Total90
Honours Atlético Junior Categoría Primera A: 2023-II
Uruguay U20 South American Youth Football Championship: 2017
Uruguay Copa América third place: 2024
Individual Uruguayan Primera División Team of the Year: 2021
References
External links Profile at the Uruguayan Football Association website