THE Rodrigo Mora’s departure from FC Porto is, with each passing hour, an increasingly acquired scenario. The creative will be on his way to AS Roma, in a deal that could exceed 50 million euros, and is expected to head to Italy on a loan deal.
FC Porto and AS Roma have been negotiating the basis of the understanding in the last few hours, meaning the dossier could be unlocked in the coming days. For now, the young player continues to work with his teammates, with a view to the second round match of the I League, against Rio Ave.
In an exclusive interview given to Sport at the MinuteIsrael DionÃsio, a coach with a long history linked to the formation of FC Porto, analyzed the more than likely departure of Rodrigo Mora towards Italy. The coach believes that, at this point in his career, the young man needs to play more minutes.
“Rodrigo Mora’s characteristics don’t fit with Farioli’s idea of the game. I once said that there had to be an adjustment on both sides, which was for the coach to adjust to the player and the player to also adjust to the coach’s idea. This marriage never ended up happening 100 percent, but perhaps there was an adjustment, but it wasn’t the most productive in this case. A player like Mora, who appears at a very premature age, has to play and has to be happy. And if he doesn’t, he won’t be happy. To fit in with the coach’s idea, which is the case, he has to look for a new direction in his career. A player like Mora has to have minutes and the truth is that this year he won’t start ahead of Gabri Veiga. At this moment I think it would be better for Mora to leave, because everyone understood what Mr. Farioli’s idea is and that Rodrigo Mora will have a lot of difficulty getting into this game idea”, the coach began by saying.
Israel DionÃsio also highlighted that Rodrigo Mora made the correct choice to emigrate, since a possible continuation in Portugal in a loan business could not value him.
“Sometimes the player is more valued when he leaves the country than within the country. I think Mora has to find a favorable context that gives him minutes in which he can grow. Not having that space at FC Porto, and being a reference not only in the club’s formation, but also at national team level, Mora has to play. It’s one thing for the player to evolve in training and another thing for the player to evolve in the game”, he stressed.
AS Roma is the most likely destination for Mora, who is expected to continue his career in a league with a more defensive nature. Israel DionÃsio emphasizes that Mora’s choice to head to Italy is an act more of desperation than a conscious one, as the young man may not be able to explore all his creativity on Transalpine soil.
“Mora is already a bit desperate. At this moment he feels that he won’t have space and wants to go somewhere that values him, regardless of the idea of the game that the club may have. He feels, and it was clear in this last game, that he is not happy and the player needs to be happy. The player, when he is mentally well, is the one who can perform physically. It is clear that mentally the player is not well. If you ask me if the context is the most favorable, I don’t know. Sometimes it depends a lot on the mental part of the player and if he feels cared for and feels that he will be very useful in this case to AS Roma, the adaptation will be much easier”, signaled the coach.
Once upon a time, Rodrigo Mora was associated with Paris Saint-Germain, a context that Israel DionÃsio considers could be most favorable to the Portuguese player.
“PSG would be the ideal context because it is a team that already has some routines implemented for a few years. It is clearly an idea of attack, of possession, and it would be supported by players who already have a great history in world football. The contexts depend on the relevance they will give to the player. Any athlete likes to feel cared for. And if he feels that he is going to AS Roma and that he is going to be an important player, clearly he will grow, he will help, and he will adapt much more easily than in a context that perhaps he may already feel that he won’t be part of it”, stressed the coach, remembering Rodrigo Mora’s strengths.
“Mora has to play between the lines. Now, if he then appears on the outside, he appears on the inside… As long as the idea is to use players to play between the lines, because that is his strongest point, as well as the last pass and also the finishing. He often comes up with very easy arguments, in very short spaces, and can dribble past two opponents very easily and can finish. Now, if you talk to me about a transition game, a transition game does not favor Mora at all. Now, if is an organized attacking game, a supported game, of patience, in an offensive organization already installed in the offensive midfield, which clearly favors Mora more than a transition game”, highlighted Israel DionÃsio, pointing out why Mora doesn’t settle in at FC Porto.
“The truth is that FC Porto presses very well, high. But then they have very simple processes. And it can be said that they often play in transition, but even in an organized attack, FC Porto has simple processes. It’s two, three touches and they want to attack the opponent’s goal. They don’t favor Rodrigo Mora’s virtuosity”, he concluded.
