Àlex Moreno Explained

Àlex Moreno
Full Name:Alexandre Moreno Lopera[1]
Birth Date:8 June 1993
Birth Place:Sant Sadurní, Spain
Height:1.79 m
Position:Left-back, winger
Currentclub:Nottingham Forest
(on loan from Aston Villa)
Clubnumber: 19
Youthclubs1:Vilafranca
Youthyears2:2011–2012
Youthclubs2:Barcelona
Years1:2011
Caps1:1
Goals1:0
Years2:2012–2013
Caps2:27
Goals2:2
Years3:2013–2014
Caps3:31
Goals3:2
Years4:2013–2014
Caps4:2
Goals4:1
Years5:2014–2019
Caps5:124
Goals5:8
Years6:2015–2016
Clubs6:Elche (loan)
Caps6:40
Goals6:2
Years7:2019–2023
Caps7:99
Goals7:5
Years8:2023–
Caps8:40
Goals8:2
Years9:2024–
Clubs9:Nottingham Forest (loan)
Caps9:0
Goals9:0
Nationalyears1:2022–
Nationalcaps1:1
Nationalgoals1:0
Club-Update:21:42, 21 August 2024 (UTC)
Nationalteam-Update:15:31, 13 January 2023 (UTC)

Alexandre "Àlex" Moreno Lopera (pronounced as /es/; born 8 June 1993) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a left-back or left winger for club Nottingham Forest, on loan from Aston Villa.

He spent most of his career with Rayo Vallecano and Betis, achieving La Liga totals of 146 games and six goals over six seasons and winning the 2021–22 Copa del Rey with the latter club. In January 2023, he signed with Aston Villa.

Moreno represented the Catalonia national side, making his debut in May 2022.

Club career

Early years and Mallorca

Born in Sant Sadurní d'Anoia, Barcelona, Catalonia, Moreno graduated from local FC Vilafranca's academy, making his senior debut in 2010–11 in the Tercera División. He signed with FC Barcelona in April 2011, being assigned to the youth side;[2] [3] he started his career as a winger.[4]

In July 2012, Moreno joined Segunda División B club UE Llagostera.[5] He finished the campaign with 1,333 minutes of action, scoring twice.[6] [7] [8]

On 4 July 2013, Moreno moved to RCD Mallorca, recently relegated to the second division.[9] He played his first professional match on 18 August, in a 4–0 away loss against CE Sabadell FC in the Segunda División.[10]

Moreno scored his first goal in division two on 4 January 2014, the last in a 2–2 draw at UD Las Palmas.[11] He featured regularly during the season, as his team narrowly avoided another drop.[12]

Rayo Vallecano

On 15 July 2014, Moreno signed a four-year deal with Rayo Vallecano.[13] He made his La Liga debut on 14 September, coming on as a late substitute in a 2–3 home defeat against Elche CF.[14]

Moreno was loaned to Elche of the second tier for one year on 13 August 2015.[15] He was an undisputed starter after returning to the Campo de Fútbol de Vallecas, netting three times from 40 appearances in 2017–18 as the side returned to the top flight as champions.[16]

Betis

On 21 August 2019, after suffering relegation, Moreno joined Real Betis on a five-year contract.[17] He scored his first goal for the Andalusians the following 11 January, in the 3–0 win over Club Portugalete in the second round of the Copa del Rey.[18] His first in the league came on 24 October 2021, helping the hosts to beat Rayo Vallecano 3–2.[19] He added a brace on 12 December, in a 4–0 defeat of Real Sociedad also at the Estadio Benito Villamarín.[20]

Moreno made eight appearances in the 2021–22 Spanish Cup, as they won the tournament for the third time in their history;[21] this included 105 minutes of the final against Valencia CF, won on penalties in Seville.[22]

Aston Villa

On 11 January 2023, Moreno joined Premier League club Aston Villa for an undisclosed fee, signing a three-and-a-half-year deal;[23] he was given the number 15 shirt.[24] He made his league debut two days later, replacing the injured Lucas Digne early into an eventual 2–1 home win over Leeds United.[25]

On 20 May 2023, Moreno suffered a hamstring injury during a 1–1 draw against Liverpool; following surgery, he was estimated to be sidelined for between three and four months.[26] He made his return on 30 November, closing the 2–1 home victory over Legia Warsaw in the group stage of the UEFA Europa Conference League for his first goal for the Villans.[27] He scored his first in the league on 17 December, equalising an eventual 2–1 away defeat of Brentford.[28]

Nottingham Forest loan

On 21 August 2024, Moreno joined fellow Premier League club Nottingham Forest on a season-long loan.[29]

International career

Moreno made his debut for the non-FIFA Catalonia side on 25 May 2022, starting in a 6–0 win over Jamaica.[30]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupContinentalTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Llagostera2012–13Segunda División B27240312
Mallorca2013–14Segunda División31210322
Mallorca B2013–14Tercera División2121
Rayo Vallecano2014–15La Liga11021131
2016–17Segunda División37410384
2017–18Segunda División40300403
2018–19La Liga36100361
2019–20Segunda División000000
Total12483100001279
Elche (loan)2015–16Segunda División40210412
Betis2019–20La Liga31021331
2020–21La Liga23020250
2021–22La Liga3058070455
2022–23La Liga1500040190
Total995121001101226
Aston Villa2022–23Premier League190190
2023–24Premier League212300051293
2024–25Premier League0000000000
Total402300051483
Nottingham Forest (loan)2024–25Premier League00000000
Career total363222420016140325

Honours

Rayo Vallecano

2017–18[16]

Betis

2021–22[22]

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Álex Moreno. Diario AS. es. 29 July 2022.
  2. News: La cantera del Barça se refuerza. Barça's youth system is strengthened. Mundo Deportivo. Oriol. Domènech. es. 26 April 2011. 30 September 2013.
  3. Web site: El Barcelona muestra interés por Álex Moreno. Barcelona show interest in Álex Moreno. One Football. José Ángel. López. es. 10 April 2022. 12 January 2023.
  4. News: Álex Moreno, en la agenda de la Premier... y del Barça. Álex Moreno, watched by the Premier... and Barça. Diario de Sevilla. Samuel. Silva. es. 6 April 2022. 12 January 2023.
  5. News: El Llagostera incorpora el davanter Àlex Moreno, del Barça juvenil. Llagostera add forward Àlex Moreno, from Barça youths. Diari de Girona. ca. 16 July 2012. 30 September 2013.
  6. News: Carbón para el Baleares en Llagostera. Baleares get tails in Llagostera. Diario de Mallorca. es. 7 January 2013. 9 December 2021.
  7. News: El Llagostera aguanta con diez desde el 35'. Llagostera hold on with ten from the 35th onwards. Mundo Deportivo. es. 28 February 2013. 9 December 2021.
  8. News: La promesa ja és una realitat. The promise is already a reality. L'Esportiu. Guillem. Freixa. Eduard. Ciurana. ca. 1 October 2015. 12 January 2023.
  9. Web site: El Real Mallorca ficha a Alex Moreno del UE Llagostera. Real Mallorca sign Alex Moreno from UE Llagostera. RCD Mallorca. es. 4 July 2013. 30 September 2013. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20131003011501/http://www.rcdmallorca.es/principal_new.php?nombreModulo=noticiasDetalle&idmenu=3&idnoticia=32739. 3 October 2013.
  10. News: El Sabadell golea y es el primer líder de la temporada. Sabadell thrash and are the season's first leaders. Marca. es. 18 August 2013. 30 September 2013.
  11. News: Las Palmas deja escapar una victoria de oro. Las Palmas let a golden victory slip away. Marca. es. 4 January 2014. 15 July 2014.
  12. Web site: Moreno y Vallejo renuevan con el Mallorca. Moreno and Vallejo renew with Mallorca. La Liga. es. 27 June 2014. 2 September 2021. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20210924232213/https://www.laliga.com/en-GB/news/moreno-y-vallejo-renuevan-con-el-mallorca. 24 September 2021.
  13. Web site: Álex Moreno nuevo jugador del Rayo. Álex Moreno new Rayo player. Rayo Vallecano. es. 15 July 2014. 15 July 2014. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140717203551/http://www.rayovallecano.es/-/alex-moreno-nuevo-jugador-del-rayo. 17 July 2014.
  14. Web site: Rayo Vallecano 2–3 Elche. ESPN FC. 14 September 2014. 6 October 2014.
  15. Web site: Álex Moreno cedido al Elche CF. Álex Moreno loaned to Elche. Rayo Vallecano. es. 13 August 2015. 13 August 2015. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304064313/http://www.rayovallecano.es/-/alex-moreno-cedido-al-elche-cf. 4 March 2016.
  16. Web site: Álex Moreno, adiós al héroe del ascenso. Álex Moreno, farewell to the promotion hero. Unión Rayo. Raúl. González. es. 21 August 2019. 15 December 2019.
  17. Web site: Real Betis sign Álex Moreno. Real Betis. 21 August 2019. 21 August 2019.
  18. Web site: 0–3. Alex Moreno, Loren y Joaquín imponen la lógica en Portugalete. 0–3. Alex Moreno, Loren and Joaquín make logic prevail in Portugalete. EFE. es. 11 January 2020. 9 December 2021.
  19. News: El Betis se lleva un vibrante duelo en el Villamarin. Betis take thrilling clash at the Villamarin. Sport. Cristina. Moreno. es. 24 October 2021. 9 December 2021.
  20. Web site: Betis thump Real Sociedad 4–0 as Moreno bags a brace. ESPN. 12 December 2021. 3 January 2022.
  21. Web site: Álex Moreno, campeón de Copa del Rey con el Real Betis. Álex Moreno, King's Cup champion with Real Betis. Campus Álex Moreno. es. 26 April 2022. 12 January 2023.
  22. Web site: Real Betis 1–1 Valencia (5–4 on pens): Real Betis win Copa del Rey final on penalties. BBC Sport. 23 April 2022. 24 April 2022.
  23. Web site: Villa confirm Álex Moreno signing. Aston Villa F.C.. 11 January 2023. 11 January 2023.
  24. Web site: Moreno to wear number 15 shirt. Aston Villa F.C.. 11 January 2023. 11 January 2023.
  25. Web site: Aston Villa 2–1 Leeds United. BBC Sport. Emlyn. Begley. 13 January 2023. 13 January 2023.
  26. Web site: Alex Moreno: Aston Villa defender out until August after hamstring surgery. BBC Sport. 26 May 2023. 26 May 2023.
  27. Web site: Aston Villa 2–1 Legia Warsaw: Alex Moreno winner puts Villa top of group as violence before kick-off mars game. Sky Sports. Adam. Bate. 30 November 2023. 30 November 2023.
  28. Web site: Brentford 1–2 Aston Villa. BBC Sport. Michael. Emons. 17 December 2023. 17 December 2023.
  29. News: Taylor . Paul . Forest sign Moreno on loan from Villa . 2024-08-21 . The New York Times . en-US . 0362-4331.
  30. Web site: Montilivi vibra amb l’exhibició de Catalunya contra Jamaica. Montilivi set ablaze with Catalonia display against Jamaica. Catalan Football Federation. ca. 25 May 2022. 13 January 2023.