Right back Dani Morer joins ATO on season-long loan
Out of nowhere, despite the transfer window supposedly having closed a week ago (and shortly after sudden rumours of a completely different loan signing), Atlético Ottawa have revealed the addition of former Barcelona youth player Dani Morer, signed on loan from Portuguese side F.C. Famalicão. Sources say that Dani has been training with the club for some time (possibly suggesting his loan was within the window and the announcement delayed) and that a potential debut is not far away, given the congestion of the Canadian Championship.
Though he did not play during the 2023-24 season, the 26-year-old right-back spent the previous two seasons on loan at FC Andorra, including making 12 appearances in the Segunda División, Spain's second tier, in 2022-23.
Born to a Spanish father and a Colombian mother, Morer started out in the academies of CE Mataró, located a little north-east of Barcelona, when he was just 8 years old, before moving to Barcelona's youth teams in 2009. He stuck around, working his way up through the ranks, even earning a callup to the Spanish side for the 2015 European Under-17 Championship. In 2017-18, his Barcelona B side picked up the UEFA Youth League title, with Morer seeing the field in each of the four knockout games, with two starts and two substitute appearances.
Though unfamiliar to most ATO fans, Morer will see a couple old faces in the locker room, having played with Ballou Tabla at Barcelona B in 2018 and with Rubén del Campo at Famalicão in 2020.
Listed at just 169cm (roughly 5'6"), he was described as a "great ball progressor" while with Barcelona, frequently making passes into dangerous areas while also often moving into a more central pivot position.
It remains to be seen what role he will see in the red and white stripes - does his addition allow the team to push Kris Twardek further forward? Is it designed to provide Twardek with a deputy, for when he needs a break (or misses time due to cards)? It may also simply be an effort to shore up at right back, a spot that only has 2 players to occupy it on the roster (Twardek and Roy). Or perhaps CarGo has a different plan for Morer, one that will surprise everyone. Only time will tell, but for now, welcome to the Capital Dani!
