Edgaras Jankauskas worked closely with Terem Moffi at FK Riterai and says he has no doubt that he is “a complete player who can succeed in Portugal” playing for FC Porto.
Acquired from Nice on loan (with a purchase option of eight million euros, plus 250,000 euros depending on performance-related bonuses) in the last winter transfer window, Terem Moffi didn’t take long to demonstrate his worth at FC Porto.
After being brought on by Francesco Farioli in the final stages of the victories over Nacional (0-1) and Rio Ave (1-0), the Nigerian international replaced Deniz Gul last Friday and, just over half an hour later, scored, assisted by William Gomes, the goal that sealed the 3-1 victory over Arouca at the Estádio do Dragão.
The immediate impact is no surprise to those who know him best, such as Edgaras Jankauskas – a former striker who, in Portugal, represented not only Porto, but also Benfica and Belenenses – who had the opportunity to ‘polish’ him in 2019 when they crossed paths at FK Riterai in Lithuania.
“I was free, without obligations, and, as a result of my relationship with the president, he asked me to help the strikers, passing on knowledge and sharing experiences. Moffi was there, having just arrived. He was easy to coach because he was eager to learn,” he stated in an interview with Monday’s edition of the newspaper O Jogo.
“I remember him as a player who scored many goals, full of qualities. His right foot wasn’t at the desired level; he was great using his left, combining speed, agility, and physical power, but he was predictable because he couldn’t be efficient with his other foot. He always went to the left,” he continued.
“He started improvising on the right, and improved a lot. Of course, our league won’t define the player you’ll become, it won’t determine your success, it’s always debatable. But, fortunately, Moffi has become a great example. He came from Africa, wasn’t lucky at his first club, here he took advantage of his second chance and showed that he was far above the level of the league,” he concluded.
“Terem Moffi arrived in Belgium and immediately started scoring goals, he became a diamond.”
At FK Riterai, Terem Moffi scored 20 goals in 31 games, numbers that caught the attention of the Belgian club Kortrijk, where he moved the following year. From there, he gained experience at Lorient and Nice (where he had the opportunity to be coached by Francesco Farioli): “He arrived in Belgium and immediately started scoring goals, he became a diamond, and with that, he also had success in France. I imagine FC Porto as an easier step for him.”
“It’s a more offensive team, of higher quality, with better players. There, he will be better served, he’s already good at creating space, he’s good at getting around in tight spaces, he runs a lot. He’s a complete player to succeed in Portugal,” analyzed the now Lithuanian national team coach, at 50 years of age.
“I’m not fully aware of all his progress, but I see a much better right foot, a confident and mature player. I have no reason to doubt that he will be able to show it,” he concluded.
