Anibal Moreno – Racing Club’s industrious pivote
Anibal Moreno was undoubtedly the best and most consistent deep-lying playmaker in Argentinean football as Fernando Gago facilitated his transition into a deeper-lying midfielder as he was key reason for their ascent from finishing 15th last year to 2nd this year. He is proud of his roots as he is from Catamarca as he enjoys walking through his neighbourhood with his friends as he prefers the calm of walking everywhere in his small neighbourhood rather than driving to places in the bigger cities in Argentina. Moreno even prefers to spend his holidays in Catamarca with his friends who he has known since his childhood. Moreno has grown into a role model for young boys in the region as even children who support Boca Juniors will support the 23-year-old midfielder when Racing play Boca.
Moreno has spent the majority of his life in Rosario, coming through the academy at Newell’s Old Boys before moving to Racing as he found the differences in lifestyle difficult when he first moved but he has now settled, becoming one of the stalwarts of the team. He initially joined Racing on a loan deal before his deal was made permanent for $6 million as Racing have now added a $25 million release clause to his contract. Moreno has been given the sobriquet ‘Animal’ Moreno by the Racing fanbase who constantly cheer his name, showing gratitude for his constant hardworking nature and humility but Moreno is not a fan of the nickname but does not mind fans calling him it.
Moreno is a bundle of energy at the base of midfield as he thrives at regaining possession in the counter-pressing phase, pushing up to close down spaces and make well-timed tackles to deny the opposition counter-attacking opportunities. He can also large swathes of the pitch, bursting from flank to flank to make tackles as in the defensive phase, he can cover the space to make tackles while being comfortable and assured in 50/50 battles. However, in possession, he can receive possession in the deeper areas, being unafraid to turn out of pressure and thread deep line-breaking passes into the forward line as his passing range is impeccable. In the final third, he can thread passes to teammates in between the lines or work passes into the channels for runners to orchestrate attacking moves. There are few defensive midfielders in world football who are as well-rounded as Moreno at such a young age.
Moreno is able to integral to the creation of goalscoring opportunities as he has a mastery of the fundamentals of the deep-lying midfield controller position. Away to Cuiaba in the Copa Sudamericana, Moreno started the game brilliantly, winning possession in the counter-press while he dropped deep to always create a good angle for passes from his centre-backs as he received possession to turn and thread a pass in between the lines to start an attacking move. Moreno is comfortable playing as the pivote at the base of midfield in the attacking phase and the defensive phase as he received possession from Facundo Mura to play a direct pass in between into the channels for Enzo Copetti to cross for a lay-off and deflected shot on goal. Fernando Gago places a high amount of demand on Moreno at the base of midfield as he is tasked with dropping deep to receive possession from his centre-backs while also moving from flank to flank to receive possession from the fullbacks, adding continuity and invention to Racing’s play from deep. The 23-year-old played an impeccable line-breaking pass to Carlos Alcaraz to start an attacking move as the defensive midfielder moved into the box to receive a lay-off to apply the finish for the equalizer.
At home to Argentinos Juniors in a tightly contested affair, Racing were applying a press in a 4-2-4 shape as the first line of the press was evaded for Moreno to make a tackle. He then received possession in the six-space to turn and thread a pass into the 8 space as this is a microcosm of his game, making crucial interventions in the defensive phase before playing phenomenal line-breaking passes in the possession phase. He repeated the trick when he was perfectly positioned in the six-space to make a tackle before threading a line-breaking pass to Leonel Miranda in between the lines. He utilized his brilliant sense of positioning to make another interception in the counter-press as his sense of danger and anticipation are sound while when he is caught out of position, he is able to cover the space to make a brilliant challenge. He made another interception to lob a pass to Copetti in behind as the striker was positioned offside.
In the build-up phase, Moreno was also dropping in between the centre-backs to receive possession while him heroically winning possession in a variety of situations in the counter-press is a staple of Racing’s game as he thrives at winning the ball cleanly in awkward situations. The 23-year-old is constantly positioned perfectly to win the ball as he made an interception before lobbing a pass for Alcaraz to make a run in behind while he had situations where he slid across to make an interception while he covered for his right-back, Mura to make another clean tackle. In possession, his head was constantly on swivel, scanning before moving into open spaces to receive possession and work quick passing interchanges to drive the ball forward. Moreno won possession with another interception in the counter-press before lobbing a cross into the box while he calmly swept up a defensive situation after playing a long pass as he can regain possession and recycle possession with penetration, precision and pace. He finished the game with an 82% pass succession rate, 73% pass succession rate in the final third, 4 interceptions and 10 ball recoveries.
Away to Estudiantes, Moreno struggled with the back and forth nature of the game as he was moving across to win possession but did not have time to settle on the ball. In a build-up sequence, he dropped in between his centre-backs before making a late movement to receive possession in the six-space to play a switch ball to Mura before he moved to the flank to receive possession once more, playing an elegant one-touch pass the eight space. When his right sided centre-back was pushing up to close down space, the 23-year-old would drop into the vacated area to provide cover as in possession, he had a lovely first touch under pressure to flick a pass to a teammate before receiving possession once more to play a one-touch pass to the wide areas. Defensively, he was covering space to win turnovers while in possession, he was critical in evading pressure with his passing range. He moved to the right flank to receive possession, lobbing a pass to the nine-space for Copetti to lay-off for Mura. It was a fast-paced and highly charged midfield battle as the Argentine controller would regain possession to swivel and thread a pass to the eight space before earning a yellow for using his elbow in an aerial duel.
Moreno then threaded a pass in between the lines to Copetti as his distribution from the deeper areas was excellent as he would drop in between the centre-backs to switch the ball to the left flank for a passing connection. He artfully moved into space to receive possession and play a lovely one-touch pass in between the lines before he stole the ball from the feet of Franco Zapiola as he received possession in the six-space once more to thread a pass in between the lines to instigate an attacking move for a blocked shot. The 23-year-old’s ability to play disguised passes in between the lines is sensational as he consistently angles balls through tight spaces to be influential in transition and the creation of opportunities. Moreno plays with an aura of authority and poise as he is excellent in sweeping up counter-pressing situations and playing immediate passes forward to start attacking moves as the Argentine deep-lying playmaker would play a one-touch pass in between the lines to Alcaraz. He received possession in the six-space to take another brilliant touch and thread a pass in between the lines to Alcaraz.
As his team were trailing, Moreno was forced to be progressive with possession as he regained possession as the last defender, flicking the ball over the head of an attacker to drive the ball forward and lob an accurate pass into the box. He finished the game with a 77% pass succession rate (67% pass succession rate in the final third), 2/3 takeons and 2 interceptions. At home to Union, Moreno illustrated his intuitive genius with another moment of mastery in the six-space, making a movement into space to receive possession and lay-off as he made another movement to receive possession, allowing the ball to roll across his body to receive possession, spinning to drive the ball forward and play a pass in between the lines. Early in the game, he was already on a yellow card as he was reckless as the 23-year-old made a terrible second challenge as he was extremely lucky to not pick up a second yellow card. He then had a moment that perfectly encapsulated his game, playing a one-touch progressive pass in between the lines while he was on the half-turn before he was in the perfect position to regain possession in the counter-press.
Moreno was diving into challenges and playing disguised passes in between the lines as he would eventually go off in a game where he had 2 tackles and 4 interceptions. At home to Rosario Central, he started the game with a terrible error, losing possession in midfield for Rosario Central to score and take the lead. He then created an opportunity when he received possession in between the lines to play a one-touch pass to Gabriel Hauche who had a shot tipped over the bar. Moreno would win possession in the counter-press as his team were unable to sustain any attacking moves as he was pushing forward to work one-touch passing interchanges in the opposition half. The 23-year-old’s penetrative passing was crucial to Racing constructing attacking moves, rolling a through ball to Carbonero in the box before pushing forward to receive possession once more, threading another pass through a glut of players to a teammate in the box.
In the counter-press, Moreno was tasked with closing down counter-attacks on his own as he struggled but Emiliano Vecchio would provide support for him as the game went on as the 23-year-old was keeping things ticking by circulating possession in the opposition half. After being at fault for conceding a goal in the first half, he would provide the winner late in the game, latching onto a lobbed cross to direct a glancing header past the goalkeeper from close range. In the dying minutes of the game, he lobbed a brilliant one-touch pass into the channels as he finished the game with a 90% pass succession rate, 3 shots on target and 1 goal as well as 2 tackles. Away to Colon, Moreno received possession in the six-space to thread a pass into the 8 space for Vecchio to attempt a through ball for Carbonero which was just too heavy. He would caress another pass to the eight space before he took up a good angle to receive possession from his left-sided centre-back, driving the ball forward and playing a disguised pass to the eight space. He threaded another pass to the eight space but reacted quickly to regain possession in an aerial duel twice as it was a classic Moreno situation where he can play the ball progressively but react quickly to regain possession.
Moreno’s directional first touch is consistently excellent as he received the ball to take a touch, working a pass into the wide areas for a one-touch pass into the half-space before playing another pass into the wide areas for a cross to Vecchio who mis-kicked an opportunity on goal. He played another one-touch pass for Carbonero in between the lines as he was at the heart of all of his team’s attacking moves. He attempted another switch ball to Carbonero which was intercepted but he stretched to make a well-timed challenge at the last moment to find Alcaraz with a line-breaking pass. In classic Moreno fashion, he covered space to make an interception and play the ball to a teammate before receiving possession, holding the ball and threading a pass in between the lines. A few moments later, the 23-year-old would play another line-breaking pass to the 8 space as he creates such good angles to receive the ball while being able to play progressively consistently. He dawdled in possession and lost the ball before switching a pass to a teammate before he instigated a counter-attacking move with a pass in between the lines. He finished the game with a 91% pass succession rate, 86% pass succession rate in the final third, 2 tackles and 7 interceptions.
At home to River Plate, Moreno started the game by receiving the ball on the half-turn and playing a deep pass in between the lines to Carbonero before he stretched to regain possession before contorting his body to play a pass to the eight space. He reacted quickly to regain possession once more before playing a switch ball to the opposite flank. He then touched a pass to Carbonero in the channels before pushing up to make an interception in the counter-press as he threaded a pass in behind to Carbonero who had his opportunity smothered. He finished the game with 2 shots, 2 on target, 3 interceptions and 14 ball recoveries. As a one-touch passer, Moreno can drive the ball forward and ease transition at tempo as away to Banfield, he pushed forward to latch onto a loose ball, playing a one-touch pass to a teammate in the ten space as he made a run in between the lines to receive possession, playing an outside of the boot one-touch pass to the flank as reacted quickly to a turnover to play another one-touch pass to the flank.
In the defensive phase, Moreno would move to the wide areas to win a turnover before moving back into the six-space to receive possession and play a one-touch pass to his fullback with his weaker left foot. During a counter-attacking situation, he covered for his centre-back who was out of position as once his centre-back recovered, Moreno moved into the six-space to hold his position to make a well-timed tackle to regain possession. After his centre-back won an aerial duel, Moreno received possession to swivel and drive the ball forward, threading a pass to the wide areas before he dropped into the six-space to receive possession, working a one-touch pass to a centre-back before moving into space to receive a lay-off and threading a pass in between the lines to the eight space. Moreno received possession on the right flank to control the ball with his left foot and play a line-breaking pass into the ten space with his weaker foot before he received possession and played another line-breaking pass to the ten space with his right foot.
In the opposition half, Moreno received possession and played a one-touch pass to the left flank before he reacted quickly to regain possession in the counter-press with a clean challenge as he was in the perfect position to make another clean challenge in the counter-press. The 23-year-old received possession in the six-space and took a heavy touch, spinning away from a defender to thread a line-breaking pass in between the lines to instigate an attacking move. Defensively, his positioning was sound to make an interception before pushing forward to make another interception to lob a pass to Copetti. After a turnover during the build-up phase, the 23-year-old was positioned soundly to make a tackle as Moreno is calm in both attacking situations and defensive situations. He showed impeccable calm to receive possession in the six-space from his right-back, cushioning the ball with his first touch to evade a marker, skipping past a defender to thread a pass in between two other defenders for a teammate in the ten space.
If an argument is to be made that Moreno has not been the best deep-lying playmaker in Argentina, then he has certainly been the most well-rounded as the eye-test and metrics back-up this assessment. Moreno ranks joint first in third assists, which is the pass that leads to the pass for the assist while he ranks 4th in general passes and 15th in passes to the final third. For his defensive metrics, he ranks 5th in defensive duels and 14th in interceptions. For progressive passes for players aged 23 or younger, he ranks 8th as the second highest ranking midfielder while for passes to the final third, he ranks 5th.
Moreno has come leaps and bounds under the tutelage of Fernando Gago as he possesses a mastery of all the essential tools to be a deep-lying playmaker while his defensive repertoire is high-level. He thrives in covering space to make well-timed tackles and interceptions as this meshes with his sound positioning as he relishes a physical midfield tussle. His ability to regain possession by chasing down to the flank to close down pacy attackers and prevent counter-attacks or move into the perfect position to make an interception makes him one of the more well-rounded anchor men in world football. Defensively, he has the mobility and positioning to be an effective defender in a 4-1-4-1 defensive shape as he can cover space from flank to flank while making interceptions on passes in between the lines or making tackles on attackers that move into his zone. In counter-attacking situations, he can cover for centre-backs and fullbacks to make well-timed last-ditch tackles as one facet of his game is his ability to regain possession in a variety of awkward situations.
In possession, he can work progressive passes from a variety of body shapes and angles as he can move into the half-space to receive possession on the half-turn and work one-touch passes from that body shape. When he receives possession while facing his own goal, he is clever with his scanning as he knows when he can lay-off the ball and move into space or when he can turn and drive the ball forward as he is not afraid of carrying the ball before playing a line-breaking pass. Moreno has the ability to play the ball on his first or second touch, working one-touch passing interchanges as he can receive passes from his fullbacks to play the ball forward or he can move into receive lay-offs to play passes forward. His passing range is phenomenal as he can switch the ball, work long passes or play penetrative passes into the channels or the box in the opposition half. After regaining possession, he can push his side forward with penetrative passes and long balls.
Moreno recently signed a contract until 2025 with a $25 million release clause as few clubs in world football would be able to pay such a fee for the 23-year-old. He would certainly suit English football as if Burnley get promoted, he would be a good fit at the base of midfield for Vincent Kompany’s side while Southampton, Wolves, Newcastle United, Brighton and Hove Albion, Aston Villa and Crystal Palace would all be good moves. Thiago Motta’s Bologna would also prove to be a good move for him as would Fiorentina while in Ligue 1, Monaco, Lille and Marseille would be good moves. In La Liga, Sevilla, Celta Vigo, Real Betis and Atletico Madrid would also be good moves as he also could be a replacement for Enzo Fernandez at Benfica. In 2023, Moreno could be one of the more sought-after players in Argentine football as he was an essential reason why Racing were on the cusp of an Argentine Primera Division title.
