Rodrigo Mora has said goodbye to FC Porto via Instagram as he prepares to join Roma, taking the number 86. The Portuguese academy product spent a decade at Porto from age nine and made his first-team debut on 25 September 2024 at 17 years old. He featured in Porto's title-winning campaign, celebrating the national championship on Avenida dos Aliados.
Mora's departure marks a significant move for Roma as they add a young attacking talent to their squad. The 19-year-old developed through Porto's system and progressed from their B team at 15 under coach Mister Folha to establish himself in the senior side over the course of last season.
In his farewell message, Mora wrote: "I arrived at FC Porto at just nine years old with big dreams, some shyness, and above all, a great desire to play football. Looking back after ten years, I realise I have grown not only as a player but also as a man, as a person. FC Porto shaped my DNA, gave me values and gave me so many memories. I will carry all of this with me for the rest of my life. The real privilege I had was feeling, every day over a decade, the affection, support and passion of our members and fans. You, dragons, were always there. You, tripeiros, made the difference. You, the strongest people, made me feel the true meaning of representing this club.
Together with you I managed to achieve what was my greatest dream: becoming national champion and celebrating that title on Avenida dos Aliados. An entire nation dressed in blue and white. A trophy lifted in front of a city filled with euphoria and happiness. But life does not stop, life goes on. Today is the moment to say goodbye to you. It is truly difficult to find the words to explain all that this club represents to me. I am leaving with my heart full of joy. FC Porto will always be the team of my heart."
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Rodrigo Mora has officially departed FC Porto to join AS Roma, where he will wear the number 86. The 19-year-old Portuguese winger spent a decade at the Estádio do Dragão from age nine, making his first-team debut on 25 September 2024 at just 17 years old. He featured prominently in Porto's title-winning campaign last season, celebrating the national championship on Avenida dos Aliados—a moment he described in his farewell message as his greatest dream realised. In an emotional Instagram post, Mora reflected on his decade in Porto's system, crediting the club with shaping his values and identity as both a player and a person, and vowing to carry those lessons with him to Rome.
Porto manager Francesco Farioli publicly endorsed Mora's transfer, telling the press that the winger is now a more complete footballer than when he arrived at the Portuguese club 14 months ago. Farioli flatly denied claims that he had tried to force Mora out, asserting instead that he had sought to help the player develop according to his football philosophy. "I will be his first fan," Farioli said of Roma's new signing. However, Roma News reports that Farioli also addressed a public controversy involving Mora's lawyer, pushing back against inflammatory language used in public statements about the player's time at Porto, including references to him being "slowly killed by the coach." Farioli emphasised that his direct communication with Mora had remained constructive throughout, stating they had spoken individually several times in recent days.
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Testo Originale / Source Text
“Nato e cresciuto con la maglia del Porto, ora pronto per vestire quella della Roma. Con un lungo messaggio sul suo profilo Instagram, Rodrigo Mora ha salutato i tifosi dragoes. Di seguito l'addio del calciatore, nuovo numero 86 giallorosso: "Tanti sogni, un po’ di timidezza e, soprattutto, tanta…”
Read the full article in Italian at Il Romanista.