Another Fiorentina outcast has had his future resolved. Venezia announced yesterday that it’s acquired Matías Moreno on loan. According to Nicolò Schira, it’s an initial €500,000 fee with a €5.5 million option to make the move permanent. The Viola will keep a 50% sell-on clause as well. Previous reporting claimed that the centerback was close to Wrexham for €8.5 million and a smaller sell-on percentage but chose to stay in Italy (or rather, the top flight) instead.
It ends a brief and slightly mystifying tenure in Florence for the 22-year-old. Bought in 2024 for €5 million from Belgrano, he was always a bit of a project and barely played under Raffaele Palladino before getting shipped to Levante last year on loan, where he excelled, sparking interest from a couple Premier League clubs that ultimately came to nothing.
It’s a fine move for all parties. Moreno’s got the physical qualities of a big-time centerback and could earn a massive move. He’s big and fast and is better on the ball than I’d thought when he arrived. More importantly, he plays with a ton of character. He’s fearless in the air and in the tackle and possesses that prototypical Argenine swagger. It wouldn’t surprise me to see him at a European-level club in the next couple years.
Fiorentina’s meltdown last year probably doomed him, though. Unable to push past Marin Pongračić, Luca Ranieri, or Pietro Comuzzo, he never would’ve developed at the Viola Park. Sending him to Venice, where he’ll start every game for Giovanni Stroppa, makes sense. He’ll improve and could provide a nice little financial boost if/when the Lagunari get a good enough offer.
Were I King of the Viola Park, I would’ve kept Moreno around for a season to see what he offered under Fabio Grosso. We still don’t know his ceiling but I think it’s pretty high. It’s a bit frustrating to ship him out like this as Fiorentina will now just get half of any big transfer fee instead of all of it but, given the timing of everything, it makes sense, especially after Fabio Paratici sprang for Viery and Radu Drǎgușin with his first two moves. Along with the exit of Pietro Comuzzo, this clears out a crowded centerback group, leaving just Nicolás Valentini and perhaps one of Marin Pongračić and Luca Ranieri as the odd men out.
Best of luck, Matías. It’s a shame it didn’t work out but that’s on Fiorentina, not you.
