Perhaps I’m biased to this kid because his parents are refugees who had to escape the drama of Turkey and move to Denmark for a better future for their child. Or maybe it’s because he played a vital role in sending the European Champions to second in their Champions League group with a brilliant cameo. Or maybe it’s because he can dribble the length of a field and back, with opposing defenders barely scraping the ball. But Emre Mor is a special talent. Raised in Denmark, Emre actually made it through the ranks of the youth tiers, all the way to the U-17 Denmark national team, but he was unable to convince the coaches. Mor joined the ranks of Nordsjaelland, and it was their where he not only began to display his wild ball-carrying skills and blistering pace, so much that the Turkish FA saw it upon themselves to convince Emre to join the national team of his parents. He chose Turkey, and, coupled with a meteoric rise, was selected by Fatih Terim in Turkey’s Euro squad, one of only three 18-year-olds to be selected for the Euros(Renato Sanches and Marcus Rashford). Like the other two, Emre impressed, so much that he finished the tournament as Turkey’s sole bright spot. With captain Arda Turan booed to the verge of tears, Terim questioned, and the fans left rolling their eyes, Emre Mor emerged as a bright spot for Turkey, with his electric pace and his captivating dribbling. He joined Thomas Tuchel’s crop of youngsters at Borussia Dortmund, but he is still far too raw for the top level. Perhaps joining a perennial Champions League club was too steep of a step to take for the teenager, but he seems incapable of striking the ball well, whether it be making a pass or shooting. He has improved, but he still is too tactically raw for a top 5 league, let alone Germany, and it is obvious he must work on being a team player. Still, if his mentality is anywhere near as good as his dribbling, he’ll go further than it seems.
Photo Credit: All Over Press