Manchester United fans often wonder how good it would be if the club bought Christian Eriksen in his peak or if he had more pace so the club’s links to Rodrigo Mora can give them just the experience.
Manchester United will need to fill a lot of spots in the squad in the summer not just to bolster their current options, but to replace outgoings too.
Among the outgoings is set to be Christian Eriksen, who looks set to leave on a free transfer after giving Man Utd fans a glimpse of what could’ve been in his time at Old Trafford.
It would be poetic, therefore, if the club were to sign a player who, at his peak, could effectively be an upgraded version on Eriksen.
Enter Rodrigo Mora. Here’s all you need to know about the Portuguese sensation.
Who is Rodrigo Mora?
Rodrigo Mora is a 17-year-old Portuguese attacking midfielder who plays for FC Porto, so Ruben Amorim might have to work hard due to his background with Benfica and Sporting!
Mora got introduced to the first team on the back of a sensational Youth League campaign for the U18s in 2023/24 and he took senior football by storm.
Despite playing limited minutes, Mora set fire to the league by scoring and assisting at will despite being just 17, earning rave reviews from the rest of Europe.
When and where was Rodrigo Mora born?
Mora was born on May 5, 2007 in Custoias in Portugal. He played for the local club Custoias FC for a season in 2015/16 before being scouted by Porto, where he’s been stationed since 2016, coming through their ranks.
He’s a part of the next Portuguese golden generation that has the likes of Geovany Quenda and Dario Essugo, to name two.
Rodrigo Mora national team
Mora is eligible to play for the Portuguese national team and has already made appearances for the U15 squad, all the way up to U21s despite not turning 18 till May of 2025.
One would presume that he will get his chance with the senior team after the 2026 World Cup when Portugal enter their next generation with Mora leading the charge.
Perhaps he will have joined United by then!
Rodrigo Mora position
The comparisons to Eriksen are not unfounded, as Mora is a right-footed attacking midfielder who likes to operate between the lines.
Like most modern attackers, he’s extremely versatile and has played across the front line, showing his two-footedness as he has played on either wing with aplomb.
In the long term, his future is at No. 10.
Rodrigo Mora style of play
Mora might play the same position as Christian Eriksen but his playing style is very different from the Dane, even when he was at his peak.
While Eriksen is more of a creator who thrives in picking apart defences with his smart passing, Mora is more of a dribbler who scrambles defences with his pace and trickery.
He is so threatening close to goal that he almost plays as a shadow striker at times, reminiscent of Eriksen’s teammate at his peak – Dele Alli.
Only Mora relies less on smart arrivals into the box and instead takes it to the box himself, using his technical gifts.
He has a clear role as a right-sided No. 10 in Amorim’s 3-4-2-1, where Alejandro Garnacho has thrilled and frustrated in equal measure.
Rodrigo Mora height
Mora might get a bit taller since he’s not 18 yet but he’ll never be a physical marvel, standing at 5’7″ now. His physicality remains a work in progress and he’s prone to being bullied off the ball.
That adjustment has forced him to become more threatening on it but that’s the one weakness he’ll have to work around.
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