Surprising and daring. As the transfer market buzzer was about to sound, Olympique Lyonnais appeared out of nowhere to pull off a coup that was certainly not planned. Diego Moreira, a young 19-year-old winger, landed at Chelsea freely at the start of the summer from Benfica, has indeed joined Les Gones as part of a loan paying up to 2.8 million euros. A relatively large sum for a player steeped in talent, but who will probably have the heavy task of making Bradley Barcola forget on the right flank. The latter, left for Paris Saint-Germain for 45 million euros (+ 5M in bonus).
His profile, his Youth League 2022 and a mixed last campaign…
Able to evolve on the left as on the right, Diego Moreira is a modern winger, good to detonate, draft to finish. Fast, lively and endowed with a good quality of passing thanks to his left paw, the former Benfica has assets that should allow him to make a difference in Ligue 1, against low blocks grouped together in particular as well as in transition . But at 19, Moreira is far from being a finished player, as evidenced by his lack of lucidity in the last gesture, especially at the finish. Trained at Standard de Liège, the Belgian-Portuguese was particularly revealed during the Youth League 2021-2022, an edition he won with Benfica Lisbon. During this competition, Diego Moreira scored 4 goals, while delivering 5 caviars in 10 games to humiliate Salzburg in the final (6-0, including a goal from Cher Ndour).
Unfortunately, the young promise will not have the chance to confirm with the first team of Benfica, since the club does not manage to reach an agreement with the player to have him extended. Moreira, about to leave, is therefore asked to play in the Portuguese second division, in Liga Sabseg (3 goals and 2 assists in 24 games). Given his situation, several clubs are interested in the profile of the native of Liège. Including Paris Saint-Germain, long favorite to secure the services of the former Lisbon. In vain. Diego Moreira had a choice, and he decided to join Chelsea on July 1, 2023.
Still too fair for Chelsea
Very little used during the Blues’ good pre-season (a few crumbs against Newcastle, 1-1), Diego Moreira probably quickly understood that Mauricio Pochettino had other priorities on the wings. It must be said that with Mykhaylo Mudryk, Noni Madueke, Raheem Sterling, more recently Cole Palmer and without forgetting Angelo, loaned to Strasbourg and author of great performances during the summer in the United States, Chelsea have many attacking options. Far too many to make room for Diego Moreira, especially without European competitions to play. If the former Benfica has not had a lot of opportunities to show himself so far, the latter has nevertheless been established in the Carabao Cup against Wimbledon last Wednesday (2-1).
During this meeting, at home for his big debut, the new OL player did not show himself to his advantage, losing several balls and seeing Noni Madueke be the best player on the pitch (penalty scorer). Worse, the 19-year-old winger saw himself out at half-time, replaced by Nicolas Jackson, to allow the Blues to advance to the next round. The competition is too fierce, and now Olympique Lyonnais is pointing the tip of its nose, to the delight of Jorge Mendes, the player’s agent and close to John Textor as explained The Team. At Lyon, Diego Moreira will have to impose himself in the XI and will probably have the chance to do so in view of the current slump. A year to show himself to his advantage before why not, return to Chelsea with completely different ambitions…
