Rodrigo Mora on leaving FC Porto: “I needed a new challenge” | OneFootball

Rodrigo Mora, a 19-year-old midfielder developed at FC Porto, spoke to Canal 11 about his transfer to AS Roma, adapting to Italian football, and saying goodbye to the club where he played for a decade. The youngster admitted how difficult it was to leave the Dragão, but saw the decision as necessary for his career and assured: “It’s going to be a good move for me.”

The most high-profile sale of Porto’s summer transfer window has taken one of the greatest talents produced by the dragons’ academy to Italy. After 19 years living in Porto and ten representing FC Porto, Rodrigo Mora acknowledges how different his new surroundings are, without hiding his excitement for a step he had wanted to take.

Speaking about his first steps in Italy, the midfielder recognized the cultural and footballing contrast. The change is profound, but he has embraced it with confidence.

Mora explained: “It was a different change; I spent 19 years living in Porto and ten years playing for FC Porto. But it’s a different culture, the football is different, and I’m happy with this move. It’s going to be a good move for me.”

The weight of distance does not, however, erase the sense of expectation. Between the life he built in Porto and the discovery of a different reality, the player sees the transfer as an opportunity for growth.

His connection to FC Porto came through with the emotional weight of someone closing a long chapter, though he did not want to turn the farewell into a full stop. Mora left open the possibility of a return and reaffirmed the Porto identity he carries with him.

“Goodbyes are never easy; it was difficult for me because it was such a long time. It was home and it will always be my home there. It was difficult, but I know every cycle comes to an end and others can open later on. But, most importantly, I leave with a full heart,” he said. “I became a champion with my club and I leave as a champion. That is the most important thing, and I will always continue to be one more Porto supporter, cheering from Italy. But I wish them the best of luck, and I know things are going well, and may the back-to-back title come.”

The farewell is marked more by gratitude than by rupture. The midfielder leaves as a champion, still sees himself as a supporter, and looks to the future without closing the door on the home where he was developed.

In explaining his departure, Rodrigo Mora was clear: he needed a change of environment and a different level of demand. The competitiveness of the Italian league appears as a central part of that drive.

“I knew I needed a new challenge in my life. I’m very grateful for all these years, but it was what I wanted,” he stressed. “A new challenge in a league as competitive as the Italian one. I think it’s going to be a good challenge for me.”

There is nothing in the young midfielder’s words that tries to downplay the path he made at FC Porto. The move to AS Roma instead comes as the next step in a career looking to move forward without forgetting its roots.

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