Following his move to Platense, Merlini's current-season form is down 22% on last season (Season 18→14), while his Rating eased 23→21. His peak season for form remains 2025/26 (Season 18).

Domestic career

Season	Club	Apps	G	A	Match	RTG	Season
2026/27	Platense · 12th	20	2	1	6.91	21	13
2025/26	Gimnasia L.P. · 8th	24	1	2	6.79	23	18
2024/25	Libertad Asuncion	23	0	0	—	—	—
2023/24	Libertad Asuncion	12	2	0	—	—	—
2022/23	Libertad Asuncion	21	6	0	—	—	—

Domestic-league totals per season. RTG = Field Insider Rating (potential / ceiling); Season = age-blind form that year. 7 earlier seasons in the full career.

Scout report

Experienced headCentre-forward

B. Merlini is a 31-year-old centre-forward at Platense, rated 21.2 overall by Field Insider's model, ranking 420th of 520 on scout potential in the Liga Profesional Argentina. A seasoned veteran, he has been a fringe squad member this season (32.6% of available minutes). He brings 0.37 goal contributions per 90 (0.25 goals, 0.12 assists). Below: strengths, watch-points, market-value outlook and the latest transfer news on Merlini.

Judged on this season alone, Merlini graded 14 — a workmanlike campaign that ranks 39th of 56 of the 56 centre-forwards in the Liga Profesional Argentina, on 2 goals and 1 assist in 20 appearances (0.368 involvements per 90).

Year-on-year, that's a drop on last season (Season 18 → 14).

On long-term talent our Rating reads 21, 47th of 56 of the 56 centre-forwards in the Liga Profesional Argentina. At 31 Merlini is into the veteran stage, where the age curve weighs on the projection, and a market index of 2.8 reflects that trajectory.

From the career report

Read the full career report →

Below his 2025/26 peak but holding a solid level — the platform for a return is there.

Peak: 2025/26Holding level

Current potential47th of 56 centre-forwards · Liga Profesional Argentina · 20 apps Current season39th of 56 centre-forwards · Liga Profesional Argentina · 20 apps 39th-best centre-forward in the Liga Profesional Argentina 420th in the Liga Profesional Argentina · potential 47th-highest potential centre-forward in the Liga Profesional Argentina

21.2

Ratingi

47th of 56 centre-forwards

14.2

Seasoni

below regular-starter level

32.6%

Minutes

limited game time

0.37

Goal contrib / 90

productive for the role

Output in context · Platense finished 12th of 15 · a lower-table side

Apps

Goals

Assists

G+A

0.1

Goals / app

2 goals in 20 appearances (0.1 per game) — light end product the role wants to see climb. Add 1 assist for 3 goal contributions in all.

Strengths

Final-third output. 0.37 goal contributions per 90 (0.25 goals, 0.12 assists) — productive for the role.

Watch points

Game time. Only 32.6% of available minutes — needs a settled run to prove the level.
Age curve. At 31, both level and resale value are on the downslope.
Level. Rates below a nailed-on top-tier starter on our model.

Outlook

With a Rating of 21.2, Merlini carries the 47th-highest potential of the centre-forwards in the Liga Profesional Argentina of 56 — though on just 20 appearances this season, so the standing rests on a small sample. In the final third he profiles as a productive contributor (0.37 goal contributions per 90). Veteran phase — a short-term, lower-fee proposition as both level and value decline (0.9× and falling).

Generated from Field Insider's rating model · AI-written analysis to follow.

Per 90 & availability

Minutes played %32.6%

Available fixtures25 of 25

Goals / 900.245

Assists / 900.123

Goal contribution / 900.368

Defensive actions / 901.349

Player flow

Goal involvements3

Shot conversion %33.3

Shot accuracy %54.5

Pass accuracy %85

Dribble success %40

Cards / 900

Foul involvement / 905.395

Season-by-season progression

Rating (potential)Season (form)

Value & potential by age

Market valueRating

Solid = now · dashed = projected

The gold line is market value — an index (not €) blending rating, age and league. It climbs through the early 20s, peaks around ages 23–27 (~6), then tapers with age. At 31, Merlini sits on 2.8, past its peak and easing. The blue line is Merlini's projected Rating — 21.2 today — recomputed at each age, so it follows the same rise-and-fall as a career matures and declines. Solid = up to today; dashed = projected.

Season statistics

Bars = where he ranks among centre-forwards in the Liga Profesional Argentina with 600+ minutes this season.

Shooting

Goals2

Shots on target6

Shots11

Passing

Assists1

Chances created14

Passes380

Pass accuracy85%

Possession

Successful dribbles8

Dribble success40%

Duels won56

Duels won %57.1%

Fouls won35

Defending

Tackles9

Interceptions2

Fouls committed9

Yellow/red cards

Yellow cards0

Red cards0

Transfer history

PlatenseJan 2026 – nowFree

Gimnasia L.P.until Jan 2026

Free agentDec 2025 – Jan 2026Free

Gimnasia L.P.Jan 2025 – Dec 2025Free Transfer

LLibertad AsuncionJan 2021 – Jan 2025

Defensa Y Justicia(on loan)Jan 2019 – Jan 2021

San Lorenzountil Jan 2019

About B. Merlini

Bautista Merlini is a 31-year-old centre-forward who plays for Platense, born on July 4, 1995 in Vicente López, standing 179 cm tall. He is from Argentina. Platense currently sit 12th of 15 in the Liga Profesional Argentina.

This season

In the current season, B. Merlini has made 20 appearances with 2 goals and 1 assist across 734 minutes, averaging a 6.93 match rating over his last 10 rated games. His season has spanned the Liga Profesional Argentina and the CONMEBOL Libertadores. Though primarily a centre-forward, he has also lined up in midfield this season.

When B. Merlini plays, Platense's record this season is 4W-7D-8L — and his match ratings average 6.9 at home against 6.86 on the road.

Recent matches

September 4, 2026: 1-1 draw at home vs Deportivo Riestra (90 minutes, 6.24 rating)
August 23, 2026: 2-1 win away at Barracas Central (14 minutes, 1 assist, 7.5 rating)
August 3, 2026: 0-4 loss at home vs Talleres Cordoba (45 minutes, 6.5 rating)
July 30, 2026: 1-2 loss away at Instituto Cordoba (96 minutes, 7.3 rating)
July 25, 2026: 2-2 draw at home vs Union Santa Fe (17 minutes, 1 goal, 7.7 rating)
May 3, 2026: 0-2 loss at home vs Estudiantes L.P. (16 minutes, 6.3 rating)
April 25, 2026: 0-1 loss at home vs San Lorenzo (25 minutes, 6.6 rating)
April 20, 2026: 3-4 loss away at Central Cordoba de Santiago (34 minutes, 1 goal, 7.6 rating)
April 12, 2026: 1-1 draw at home vs Gimnasia M. (29 minutes, 7.3 rating)
March 23, 2026: 0-1 loss away at Argentinos JRS (62 minutes, 6.3 rating)

B. Merlini's next match is on September 20, 2026, when Platense face Newells Old Boys at home in the Liga Profesional Argentina.

Field Insider's view

Field Insider currently rates B. Merlini at 21.2 with a Season form score of 14.2, ranking 420th of 520 centre-forwards in the Liga Profesional Argentina. See the full scout report for strengths, watch-points and the market-value outlook.

His honours include 10 career titles — among them the Division Profesional and the Copa Paraguay. Full list in the career record.

Career

Across 12 recorded seasons, B. Merlini has totalled 187 club appearances with 17 goals and 4 assists for 6 different clubs. His busiest campaign came in 2020/21, with 33 appearances for Club Guarani.

B. Merlini's career has also included time at Gimnasia L.P., LLibertad Asuncion, Defensa Y Justicia and San Lorenzo.

Transfer news

No transfer news found for this player.

Profile

Season stats

Performance data · by competition

Career

Scout report

Output in context · Platense finished 12th of 15 · a lower-table side

Strengths

Watch points