Rafael Tolói, hailing from the football-rich nation of Brazil, was born on the 10th of October, 1990. Known for his defensive skills, he chiefly plays as a central defender for Atalanta, wearing the esteemed number 2 jersey. Standing at 6ft (1.85m) tall and weighing 11st 11lb (75kg), his physical stature complements his position on the pitch. According to Transfermarkt, Tolói's current market value is approximately £2.2m. As of now, his contract with Atalanta is set to expire on the 30th of June, 2025, with 9 months remaining.
In January 2008, Tolói began his professional career with Goias, a club in the Série B in Brazil. His debut season in 2009 saw him making 20 first team appearances and finding the back of the net twice. His growing influence at the club was further underlined in the 2010 season, as he added another 26 league appearances to his name.
In July 2012, Tolói made the jump to the Série A, transferring from Goias to Sao Paolo. He donned the Sao Paolo jersey for three seasons, wherein he made a combined 71 first-team appearances across league matches, and managed to score three goals.
January 2014 saw Tolói take a detour in his career path, as he transferred on loan to Italy's Serie A, joining the esteemed Roma. Although he only managed to secure five first-team appearances during the 2013-2014 season, it was a significant step in his career.
Following the end of his loan stint, Tolói returned to Sao Paolo in July 2014. He reprised his role as a central figure in the team, amassing an additional 60 first-team appearances across the next two seasons.
The most pivotal transfer in Tolói's career came in August 2015, when he made the move from Sao Paolo to Atalanta, with the Italian side splashing out around £2.5m for his services. During his long tenure with Atalanta, Tolói has proved his worth time and again. From the 2015-2016 season to the current 2024-2025 season, he has racked up a impressive 253 league matches, with a tidy sum of 10 goals to his name.
A noteworthy highlight of his career was participating in the Europa League 2023-2024 for Atalanta. So far, he's made five appearances, starting three times and featuring twice as a substitute.
