The Mexican central defender had all the characteristics to consolidate himself as a key piece in Luis Enrique’s scheme.
There are injuries that forever mark the career of a footballer. If not, ask Héctor Moreno. The central of the Mexican team fractured the tibia against Holland, in the round of 16 of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and with this he saw the most important opportunity of his life pass: play in the Barcelona.
The Pumas youth squad had a very good season with him Spanish, being a key piece in the defense of the Parakeets with 32 games played in La Liga. His performance quickly sparked the interest of Barcelona, with whom even had a verbal agreement prior to the World Cup.
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– Goal México (@goalmex) May 11, 2020
“It surely would have been different. Not only were there talks with Barcelona, but he had the possibility of having signed before the World Cup. What happened happened, it was hard, I had to put a pause in life, “said Moreno, who suffered the unfortunate injury for avoiding a goal by Arjen Robben just before the break.
Once the Mexican option was ruled out, Barcelona finally made a significant investment in the pass market for Jérémy Mathieu. The Frenchman came to occupy the left center position and although he was questioned for his low performance and high cost, he was practically indisputable in eleven.
In Goal We remember that Barcelona in which Héctor Moreno would have played:
HOW WOULD BARCELONA HAVE PLAYED WITH MORENO?
Barcelona did not have a left center back, hence the urgency of the club to find a defender with those characteristics in the passing market. Héctor Moreno would have played in the center of the Blaugrana rear with Gerard Piqué, alternating parties with Javier Mascherano. He could also replace Jordi Alba in the left side, position in which he stood out with PSV
PLAYING STYLE
Luis Enrique did not have a good start, but in the second leg of the season he found the formula to make Barcelona work as in his best times. The team was characterized by a good touch, the start with a dominated ball, long possessions in the opposite field and quick combinations in the last meters with the MSN, responsible for 122 goals and 66 assists.
MORENO WAS A BETTER OPTION THAN MATHIEU
That Barcelona was tailor-made for the Mexican national team central. Héctor Moreno had a good foot and was left-handed, thus guaranteeing a clean exit by the side of Jordi Alba. He was also faster on the retreat than Mathieu and was doing very well above. But that is not all: it was also more profitable, because the French cost the club 30 million euros. No comparison is possible.
I WOULD HAVE WON IT ALL
That season was the best Barcelona had since Pep Guardiola’s departure. The Catalan team won five of six possible titles, among which the Champions League achieved after beating Juventus in the final 3-1. Without a doubt, Moreno would have gone down in the history of Mexican soccer emulating what until now only Rafa Márquez has achieved.
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