5th September 2017. By Edward Stratmann.
Despite losing their fantastic manager, Eduardo Berizzo, in the summer, who chose to fill the vacancy left by Jorge Sampaoli at Sevilla, the project at Celta Vigo still looks like one full of excitement.
Bringing in Luis Enrique's assistant during his time at the helm of Barcelona in Juan Carlos Unzue as manager, plus a slew of fascinating new signings, the Galician outfit have moved forward in an ambitious manner. The captures of Stanislav Lobotka from Nordsjaelland, Maximiliano Gomez from Defensor and permanently acquiring Jozabed Sanchez from Fulham were all tidy additions, but with transfer deadline day fast approaching, the club still had some business left to do.
Snapping up Emre Mor from Borussia Dortmund in a deal worth a reasonable €13 million was a sterling way to compliment their squad and end their window. Wanting more game time and with new BVB coach, Peter Bosz, not seeing him as an indispensable member of his squad, Mor decided the best course of action for his career was to leave the team he joined a year ago from Nordsjaelland for €10 million.
Celta will definitely be ecstatic about getting his signature over the line, especially considering he looked destined to join Inter Milan just two weeks ago, but for the deal to collapse apparently due to Mor's agent wanting a bigger cut of the deal.
Dortmund's sporting director, Michael Zorc, didn't seem to upset by the Turkish international's departure, instead sending him on his way with good luck for his new venture, stating: "He believed he would get more playing time at another club than he has previously been given in BVB's star-studded attacking line-up. We have respected this request and wish Emre all the best for the future."
The man dubbed the 'Turkish Messi' due to his pint sized frame and similarly scintillating left footed dribbling qualities will definitely inject some additional dynamism and imagination into Unzue's attacking unit. Capable of being deployed out wide, as a number 10 or even as a false 9, he'll give his Spanish manager many options where best to deploy him within the attacking third.
Moreover, his manoeuvrability in confined spaces to wriggle out of trouble, glue like ball control and low centre of gravity ensure he's a challenging man to not only dispossess but also to push off the ball. Possessing wicked pace and acceleration only adds to his unpredictability, which is something his manager at Nordsjaelland, Kasper Hjulmund, duly noted when speaking on the starlet. "What he is capable of is extraordinary. He has got so much speed in his feet, and he is so unpredictable," he explained.
"Just when you expect him to pass, he makes another dribble instead and changes direction. And when he does that, you do not catch him that is plain impossible."
While his attitude has previously been called into question during his formative years in Denmark, this is an aspect of his game that he's improved on over the years, which has enabled him to showcase an enhanced level of maturity and discipline.
"He has taken a gigantic leap recently when it comes to being able to play with the absolutely best," noted his former Danish youth coach, Per Holm. "He has learned to work hard, and he has matured as a person, so he can also use his temper in a positive way."
Earning his move to Germany after bursting into the limelight courtesy of his eye-catching displays for Fatih Terim's Turkey at Euro 2016, he could only manage 18 appearances within the highly competitive Dortmund frontline. But Celta should prove an ideal home for him to nurture his vast talent and to fulfill his undoubted potential. It was a nice touch to see star Dortmund forward, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, wish him all the best for his future in Spain, while encouraging him to play his own game and to remember to enjoy his football.
It won't be easy to begin with, though, for he'll have to deal with the challenges that come with learning a new language, adjusting to life in an unfamiliar country and familiarising himself with his new teammates. Having lost their first two La Liga outings, Unzue will be desperate for Mor to hit the ground running and put his potentially game changing skillset to good use.
Who knows, he might even be precisely what Celta need to kick start their season.
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Turkish Messi' Emre Mor a fantastic acquisition for Celta Vigo
September 05, 2017