Farioli: “A lack of professional respect, I’ll be first to back Mora” | OneFootball

On a personal level, how did you assess the management of the so-called “Mora issue” over the past year? Was it something that was always present; do you now feel you have more time to focus on other matters? “These were the final weeks with Rodrigo. And while we’re at it, I’m very grateful for the attention many southern media outlets gave him in order to protect an FC Porto talent. It really was a lot of attention — I wasn’t expecting this level of ‘love’ and concern for our boy. Of course, what I didn’t like, and I’ve said this several times already, was especially how things were handled in the final days while a negotiation worth more than 50 million was underway. Some of the comments around it… there was a lot of noise outside; internally, with the player, my direct communication was very straightforward. In the last few days, we spoke at least three or four times, one-on-one, to understand where he stood, where we stood, and how to handle the next day. So in that respect, we never had any kind of problem. Of course it wasn’t easy, neither for the player nor for the team, to deal with a situation surrounded by so much noise. But that’s it — it’s now part of our past, and from here on we move forward.”

Just to close this subject: this morning I woke up to another response and saw on TV that I was supposedly provoking someone. I was only replying. I agree that I shouldn’t respond to a lawyer, but it’s also true that a lawyer is a lawyer only up to the point where he acts like one. The moment someone goes on a TV show to build an argument, expose certain things, and put themselves in a different position, writing an editorial… then I believe there is a conflict of interest that needs to be addressed. And that’s what I did.

I believe that everyone involved in this work, and especially people who went to university and studied so much, should also understand the weight of the words we use. Because when people start talking about suffering, sadness and, especially, ‘Rodrigo Mora slowly killed by the coach’… then I think that’s something that needs to be answered in some way. One of my favorite subjects at university was about the weight of our words and how they shape reality and our minds. I believe we have quite a great responsibility here and, if you ask me, I really didn’t like how things were handled. There was a lack of professional respect. But with this, we close everything on this ‘soap opera’. As for Rodrigo, I will be his first supporter and I truly wish him the best from tomorrow onward, with the start of Serie A.”

I ask whether he had any particular conversation with the player [Rodrigo Mora], whether he gave him any advice for this new stage. “As for the conversation, it’s what I said: we spoke a lot in these past few days. Our conversation was very transparent, very honest, and full of good vibes, without hiding anything, neither emotions nor feelings. As you can imagine, for Rodrigo it was quite a particular moment. It is the second time in just a few years that he has been involved in a major deal and had the possibility of leaving the club of his life. Last season, it was mainly a financial move; this year it is a financial move backed by a top sporting project. I think it is a good step for him.”

Note: As reported by O JOGO, the Italian club is paying 25 million euros for 50% of the economic rights of the 19-year-old midfielder. The agreement also provides for another two million euros upon the achievement of objectives. Later, the Romans will be able to acquire the remaining 50% of the player’s rights for another 25 million euros. The Dragons hold a sale option for the same amount, which makes the operation mandatory.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.