Career
He is a midfielder who can also play as a striker. Merella was highly regarded at Blackpool where he was a product of the club"s Centre of Excellence, in which he became a regular starter for the youth team in the Football League Youth Alliance, North West Conference. In the semi-final held at Victoria Park, Burscough, he helped Lancashire beat Leicestershire & Rutland County Schools FA 3–1.
They then beat Devon County Schools FA 2–1 in the final, which was held at Ewood Park in Blackburn on 11 May 2006.
In the summer of 2008, he was included in the club"s pre-season tour to Latvia in July, where he impressed with some solid displays. He also played in most of the club"s other pre-season games.
On 23 July 2008, he signed his first professional contract, for six months. Merella became a regular in Blackpool"s reserve team in The Central League in the 2008-2009 season.
In November 2008, it was revealed that Blackpool were willing to let Merella go out on loan in order for him to get some first-team experience, after he continued to impress for the club"s reserve team
However, in late January he was released by Blackpool. In early February Merella joined League Two club Bournemouth on trial, trying to earn a contract. After briefly joining Conference North club Burscough, in late March he joined Conference National club Weymouth.
He made his debut in a home 2–0 defeat to Barrow at the Wessex Stadium on 29 March.
He left Weymouth in April 2009, as they were relegated to the Conference South.
