Mateu Morey: Who is Borussia Dortmund's latest Spanish acquisition from Barcelona?
Borussia Dortmund have done plenty of their summer shopping in Spain in recent years, bringing in the likes of Paco Alcacer, Marc Bartra, Achraf Hakimi, and Sergio Gomez. But who is their latest acquisition? bundesliga.com has the details...
Following in the footsteps of Alcacer, who got 18 league goals in his first season in Germany, as well as teenage midfielder Gomez, Morey is the latest player Dortmund have signed from Barcelona.
Mateu Morey
Age: 19
Club: Borussia Dortmund
Position: Right-back
Country: Spain (U18 international)
Born in Petra on the island of Mallorca, Morey played with local teams before moving to Barcelona’s famous La Masia youth academy at U16 level. His talent was evident as he helped Barca win the 2017/18 UEFA Youth League, when the Catalans got the better of Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid and Manchester City before beating Chelsea 3-0 in the final.
After three years with Barcelona's U19 side – with whom he won the league in his final year – the 5'7" teenager graduated to their B team for 2018/19, although his momentum was checked when he suffered a serious knee injury in August 2018 that kept him out for the season.
As well as his pre-injury exploits for Barcelona, Morey was one of the standout players as Spain won the 2017 UEFA U17 European Championships. He scored three goals, including one in the final against an England side that boasted Dortmund's Jadon Sancho, and registered one assist. The La Masia graduate has since represented the U18s on three occasions.
Plays a bit like: Philipp Lahm
A roaming right-footed full-back with a passing radar that could land balls in individual moon craters, Morey has a distinct look of retired Bayern Munich and Germany great Philipp Lahm about him. He has defensive bite, too, and fans would surely have seen him make the career step up sooner but for his injury troubles.
Did you know?
As well as former Barca striker Alcacer, Mateu will have fellow Spaniard and friend, Gomez, for company in Dortmund. The two were teammates and Barcelona and in the Spain U17 team that won the European Championships.
"I really get on with Sergio," Morey told BVB tv. "When I first told him I had the chance to join the club, here told me to go for it; that it’s a fantastic club and that it would be really good for me."
What they're saying
"Mateu Morey is a huge defensive talent out of the Barcelona academy, which is renowned for producing top technicians. We see the transfer as one for the future and are delighted to be able to continue Mateu's development in the first team." - Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc
"Borussia Dortmund is a fantastic club that believes in young players. They showed a lot of faith in me after my injuries. I believe I can bring something to the team." - Morey
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