Mateu Morey: What does the future hold for the Borussia Dortmund right back?

Borussia Dortmund are still on the search for a new right back, but where does this leave Mateu Morey and his future?

The topic of defensive reinforcements is an important one that Borussia Dortmund have been exploring for two summer transfer windows so far. Last year, we saw the club win the race for both Niklas Süle and Nico Schlotterbeck, players that have become integral parts of the squad and helped mitigate some of the club’s defensive deficiencies. In the winter, the club also added Julian Ryerson as another backup, with the versatile Norwegian capable of slotting in at left back, right back and center back if called upon.

In particular, the topic surrounding the flanks of the defense has become even more dire with the departure of Raphaël Guerreiro and Thomas Meunier’s general inability to convince when on the pitch. To replace the former, Ramy Bensebaini had been brought in, but the right flank of the defense still doesn’t have a set player to start in said position. A failed move for Iván Fresneda has left many questions as to who may end up filling the role.

All the while, Dortmund have had a player slowly coming back from an extensive period of injury; a player that once showed promise at right back under Edin Terzić in the season where the side lifted the DFB Pokal: Mateu Morey. In what is undoubtedly a cruel twist of fate, Morey’s uptick in form under Terzić was cut short by a grueling ligament injury that has effectually kept Morey out of football since the spring of 2021. The injury would lead Morey down a trying path of surgery and recovery; a path that effectually made him a forgotten man at Dortmund.

As of recent however, Morey has been making his return, now training with the team and up for selection by Edin Terzić. The problem is that the player hasn’t had any match practice or time on the pitch over the course of two critical years in his development, so there are certainly questions about his ability to compete at the top level against that need answering.

Morey’s career is at a crossroads, and the decisions the player makes moving forward will be critical in terms of the trajectory his career takes. The club also have an important decision to make regarding his future, so  exploring Morey’s potential options moving forward and the implications for both player and club could shed some light on how Dortmund may proceed with further defensive reinforcements.