Colombian winger Marlos Moreno seemed to be one of South America’s biggest prospects back in 2016, when he won the Copa Libertadores for Atletico Nacional and signed for Manchester City.
Four years later, the player is still to enter the pitch for the Premier League side, and has spent this time on loans at Deportivo La Coruña, Girona, Flamengo, Santos Laguna, Portimonense and now Lommel.
He moved to the Belgian side last summer, in a transfer between clubs from the City Football Group. Now after a good start in the second division, he talks about his dream of still playing for Manchester City one day.
Moreno was interviewed by Voetbalkrant at the weekend, and talked about this ‘process’ of getting ready to debut for Pep Guardiola’s side.
“That was a dream, a privilege even. Because actually a direct transfer from Colombia to Europe is rather unusual,” Marlos Moreno told Voetbalkrant.
“Obviously it’s a dream for me to be able to play in the first team of City one day. Yet I see the past years as a process that I have to go through.
“And make no mistake, I have learned a lot at each club. Also about how hard life as a professional football player can be, especially when you don’t get much opportunity to play.”
Voetbalkrant asked him about the fifty thousand followers he has on Instagram, and he explained it: “I would certainly not call myself a star. I owe most of that to my time in Brazil, where people are crazy about football”.
On the move to Lommel this summer, Moreno claims he had other options, but chose for the Belgian side.
“It was a difficult choice, because there were also some other offers. However, I chose Lommel with full conviction and I must say that I was able to adapt quickly to the club and the people here. Partly due to corona, it is very very quiet, but that makes little difference to me. I enjoy the peace and at the same time I use that free time to keep in touch with home as much as possible. After all, my wife, two children and mother are still in Colombia.”
