Nikola Moro
{{Short description|Croatian footballer (born 1998)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Nikola Moro
| image = Nikola Moro 2020.jpg
| caption = Moro playing for Dynamo Moscow in 2020
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1998|3|12}}
| birth_place = Split, Croatia
| position = Defensive midfielder
| currentclub = Bologna
| clubnumber = 6
| youthyears1 = 2004–2009
| youthclubs1 = Solin
| youthyears2 = 2009–2014
| youthclubs2 = Dinamo Zagreb
| years1 = 2014–2019
| clubs1 = Dinamo Zagreb II
| caps1 = 30
| goals1 = 7
| years2 = 2016–2020
| clubs2 = Dinamo Zagreb
| caps2 = 87
| goals2 = 10
| years3 = 2020–2023
| clubs3 = Dynamo Moscow
| caps3 = 58
| goals3 = 4
| years4 = 2022–2023
| clubs4 = → Bologna (loan)
| caps4 = 26
| goals4 = 1
| years5 = 2023–
| clubs5 = Bologna
| caps5 = 45
| goals5 = 1
| nationalyears1 = 2012
| nationalteam1 = Croatia U14
| nationalcaps1 = 2
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2 = 2013
| nationalteam2 = Croatia U15
| nationalcaps2 = 4
| nationalgoals2 = 1
| nationalyears3 = 2014
| nationalteam3 = Croatia U16
| nationalcaps3 = 6
| nationalgoals3 = 0
| nationalyears4 = 2014–2015
| nationalteam4 = Croatia U17
| nationalcaps4 = 17
| nationalgoals4 = 7
| nationalyears5 = 2014–2015
| nationalteam5 = Croatia U18
| nationalcaps5 = 7
| nationalgoals5 = 1
| nationalyears6 = 2016–2017
| nationalteam6 = Croatia U19
| nationalcaps6 = 12
| nationalgoals6 = 2
| nationalyears7 = 2017–2021
| nationalteam7 = Croatia U21
| nationalcaps7 = 24
| nationalgoals7 = 6
| nationalyears8 = 2022–
| nationalteam8 = Croatia
| nationalcaps8 = 4
| nationalgoals8 = 0
| club-update = 22:45, 18 May 2025 (UTC)
| nationalteam-update = 23:17, 9 June 2025 (UTC)
}}
Nikola Moro ({{IPA|it|nǐkola môːro|hr}};{{cite web|url=http://hjp.znanje.hr/index.php?show=search_by_id&id=eF1gUBk%3D&keyword=II|title=Nìkola|website=Hrvatski jezični portal|accessdate=21 March 2020|language=hr}}{{cite web|url=http://hjp.znanje.hr/index.php?show=search_by_id&id=e1hlWRI%3D&keyword=moro|title=mȏro|quote=Mȏro|website=Hrvatski jezični portal|accessdate=21 March 2020|language=hr}} born 12 March 1998) is a Croatian professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for {{Italian football updater|Bologna}} club Bologna and the Croatia national team.
Club career
=Dinamo Zagreb=
Aged six, he started football, moving to Zagreb aged 11.{{Cite web|url=https://www.vecernji.hr/sport/kapetan-nikola-moro-navijac-hajduka-a-svim-srcem-igra-za-dinamo-1034099|title=Kapetan Nikola Moro: Navijač Hajduka, a svim srcem igra za Dinamo|website=www.vecernji.hr}} A Hajduk Split fan in his early days in Solin, Nikola's father Miro yearned for him to contemplate a career at the Hajduk academy,{{Cite web|url=https://sportske.jutarnji.hr/nogomet/nikola-zar-si-moro-otac-modre-zvijezde-pustio-sam-sina-u-dinamo-jer-nisam-imao-novca-za-uzdrzavanje-a-u-hajduku-nam-nisu-dali-ni-opremu/5479467/|title=NIKOLA, ZAR SI MOR'O? Otac modre zvijezde: 'Pustio sam sina u Dinamo jer nisam imao novca za uzdržavanje, a u Hajduku nam nisu dali ni opremu' - Sportske Novosti|website=sportske.jutarnji.hr|date=8 January 2017}} but he went to the Dinamo Zagreb academy instead. Nikola joined the senior Dinamo Zagreb team from the youth academy in 2014.{{cite web|url=http://www.jutarnji.hr/sport/nogomet/novi-dragulj-potpisao-za-dinamo-na-tri-godine-nikola-moro-je-buducnost-modrih/875422/ |title=NOVI DRAGULJ POTPISAO ZA DINAMO NA TRI GODINE 'Nikola Moro je budućnost Modrih' -Jutarnji List |website=Jutarnji.hr |date=18 March 2014 |accessdate=24 November 2016}}
Moro played a full 90 minutes in his league debut for his senior team versus Lokomotiva in May 2016.{{cite web|url=http://www.goal.com/hr/match/lokomotiva-zagreb-vs-dinamo-zagreb/2042800/report |title=Lokomotiva Zagreb 0–4 Dinamo Zagreb izvještaj s utakmice 14.05.2016. 1. HNL |language=hr|website=Goal.com |date=14 May 2016 |accessdate=24 November 2016}} He made his Champions League debut on 7 December, in a 2–0 away defeat to Juventus.{{Cite web|last=Tironi|first=Hrvoje|date=11 December 2019|title=Moro večeras 100. put u dresu Dinama, izjednačio se s Lukom|url=https://www.24sata.hr/sport/moro-veceras-100-put-u-dresu-dinama-izjednacio-se-s-lukom-664610|access-date=9 August 2020|website=24sata|language=hr}}{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=7 December 2016|title=Juventus rutinski i drugi put pobijedio Dinamo|url=https://sport.hrt.hr/364103/liga-prvaka-juventus-dinamo|access-date=9 August 2020|website=Hrvatska radiotelevizija|language=hr}} On 22 February 2017, he signed a new contract until 2022.{{Cite web|url=https://www.croatiaweek.com/future-stars-of-croatia-locked-into-deals-until-2022/|title=Future Stars of Croatia Locked into Deals Until 2022|website=Croatia Week|date=22 February 2017}}{{Cite web|url=https://sportarena.hr/nogomet/hrvatska/dinamo/lovren-fiolic-i-moro-ostaju/|title = Kako Se Kladiti na Nogomet | Vodič za Klađenje 2021}}
On 27 March 2018, in an international match against Moldova U21, he suffered a severe injury after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament.{{Cite web|last1=Tolić|first1=Josip|last2=Tironi|first2=Hrvoje|date=27 March 2018|title=Stravična ozljeda! Nikoli Mori pukli prednji križni ligamenti...|url=https://www.24sata.hr/sport/gotova-sezona-nikola-moro-pretrpio-je-stravicnu-ozljedu-566496|access-date=9 August 2020|website=24sata|language=hr}} He came back to the team on 26 September for the Croatian Cup game against Sloga Mravince.{{Cite web|last=Tironi|first=Hrvoje|date=25 September 2018|title=Nikola Moro se vraća u Mravincima, Dinamo s najjačim sastavom|url=https://www.goal.com/hr/vijesti/dinamo-sloga-mravince-nikola-moro/1k2wl7yafs5201c2sramdwof5b|access-date=9 August 2020|website=Goal.com}} He made his Europa League debut on 14 February 2019 in a 2–1 away defeat to Viktoria Plzeň.{{Cite web|last=Hina|date=14 February 2019|title=FOTO, VIDEO: DINAMO POVEO NAKON MAJSTORIJE PETKOVIĆA I OLMA, A ONDA JE USLIJEDIO POTPUNI PREOKRET VIKTORIJE Modri izgubili nakon propusta u obrani|url=https://sportske.jutarnji.hr/sn/nogomet/foto-video-dinamo-poveo-nakon-majstorije-petkovica-i-olma-a-onda-je-uslijedio-potpuni-preokret-viktorije-modri-izgubili-nakon-propusta-u-obrani-8378840|access-date=9 August 2020|website=Sportske novosti|language=hr-hr}}
On 6 November, in a decisive Champions League home game against Shakhtar Donetsk, he was sent off in the 74th minute with Shakhtar scoring a late equalizer for 3–3 to deny Dinamo a direct qualification for the knockout phase.{{Cite web|last=Lazić|first=Petar|date=6 November 2019|title=DINAMO PROKOCKAO ISTORIJSKU POBEDU! Feliks Brih opet najomraženiji čovek na stadionu, ali se sada Srbi raduju!|url=https://sport.blic.rs/fudbal/evropski-fudbal/dinamo-zagreb-sahtjor-liga-sampiona-drama/f9rlnhd|access-date=9 August 2020|website=Blic|language=sr}}{{Cite web|last=Starešinčić|first=Danijel|date=23 October 2019|title=Ključnu utakmicu za proljeće u Ligi prvaka Dinamo igra na Maksimiru; zbog ovog mu igra samo pobjeda|url=https://www.tportal.hr/sport/clanak/kljucnu-utakmicu-za-proljece-u-ligi-prvaka-dinamo-igra-na-maksimiru-evo-zasto-mu-igra-samo-pobjeda-foto-20191022|access-date=9 August 2020|website=Tportal.hr|language=hr}}{{Cite web|last=R. I.|date=11 December 2019|title=ŠAHTAR - ATALANTA 0:3 Nevjerojatna utakmica kojom je Dinamo ispao iz Europe|url=https://www.index.hr/clanak.aspx?id=2139552|access-date=9 August 2020|website=Index.hr|language=hr}}
=Dynamo Moscow=
On 17 August 2020, he signed a five-year contract with Russian Premier League club Dynamo Moscow.{{cite web|publisher=FC Dynamo Moscow|url=https://fcdynamo.ru/news/events/?id_4=15635|title=Никола Моро – в "Динамо"!|date=17 August 2020|language=Russian}} He made his debut two days later in a 2–0 victory over Rostov, coming on for Daniil Fomin in the 69th minute.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=19 August 2020|title=Eurogolčina Nikole Vlašića u velikom ruskom derbiju protiv Lovrena! Moro debitirao u Moskvi|url=https://sportske.jutarnji.hr/sn/nogomet/eurogolcina-nikole-vlasica-u-velikom-ruskom-derbiju-protiv-lovrena-moro-debitirao-u-moskvi-15014410|access-date=|website=Sportske novosti|language=hr-hr}}{{Cite web|last=Sokolov|first=Ivan|date=19 August 2020|title=Никола Моро дебютировал за "Динамо"|url=https://www.championat.com/football/news-4111279-nikola-moro-debjutiroval-za-dinamo.html|access-date=|website=Championat|language=ru}} On 18 October, he scored his first goal for the club as Dynamo lost 3–1 to CSKA Moscow.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=18 October 2020|title=Nikola Moro majstorski zabio prvijenac za moskovski Dinamo, njegova momčad izgubila u derbiju od Vlašića|url=https://sportske.jutarnji.hr/sn/nogomet/nogomet-mix/nikola-moro-majstorski-zabio-prvijenac-za-moskovski-dinamo-njegova-momcad-izgubila-u-derbiju-od-vlasica-15026096|access-date=|website=Sportske novosti|language=hr-hr}}
=Bologna=
On 29 August 2022, Moro joined Bologna in Italy on loan until the end of the 2022–23 season, with an option to buy.{{cite web|publisher=Bologna|url=https://www.bolognafc.it/nikola-moro-al-bologna/|title=Nikola Moro al Bologna|date=29 August 2022|access-date=29 August 2022|language=it}} On 2 July 2023, Bologna exercised their option and made the transfer permanent.{{cite web|publisher=Bologna FC 1909|url=https://www.bolognafc.it/moro-esercitata-lopzione-per-lacquisto-a-titolo-definitivo/|title=Moro, esercitata l’opzione per l’acquisto a titolo definitivo|date=2 July 2023|language=it}}
International career
Representing Croatia at U16, U17 and U19 level, Nikola Moro made the quarter-finals of the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup eventually losing to Mali.{{cite web|author= |url=http://www.croatiaweek.com/photos-croatia-u-17s-return-home-to-warm-welcome/ |title=[PHOTOS] Croatia U-17s Return Home to Warm Welcome |website=Croatia Week |date=5 November 2015 |accessdate=24 November 2016}}{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/u17worldcup/news/y=2015/m=10/news=all-action-moro-gets-his-reward-2721294.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151025132203/http://www.fifa.com/u17worldcup/news/y=2015/m=10/news=all-action-moro-gets-his-reward-2721294.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=25 October 2015 |title=All-action Moro gets his reward |website=FIFA.com |date=1 November 2016 |accessdate=24 November 2016}} He also represented Croatia U21 at the 2019 and 2021 UEFA Under-21 Euros,{{Cite web|date=6 June 2019|title=Gračan objavio konačni popis za U-21 EP|url=https://hns-cff.hr/news/20093/gracan-objavio-konacni-popis-za-ep-u-21/|access-date=21 September 2021|website=Hrvatski nogometni savez|language=hr}}{{Cite web|last=Kajtazi Roth|first=Anita|date=9 March 2021|title=Bišćan objavio popis igrača za U-21 Euro: Na njemu najviše igrača Dinama i neka nova imena|url=https://gol.dnevnik.hr/clanak/rukomet-2021/biscan-objavio-popis-igraca-za-u-21-euro-na-njemu-najvise-igraca-dinama-i-neka-nova-imena---643144.html|access-date=21 September 2021|website=Gol.hr|language=hr}}{{Cite web|last=HINA|date=17 May 2021|title=Bišćan objavio popis za U-21 Euro: Pozvao i sjajnog mladog hajdukovca|url=https://gol.dnevnik.hr/clanak/hrvatska-reprezentacija/biscan-objavio-popis-za-u-21-euro-pozvao-i-sjajnog-mladog-hajdukovca---652149.html|access-date=21 September 2021|website=Gol.hr|language=hr}} captaining the team to the quarter-finals of the latter tournament for the first time in their history.{{Cite web|last=Janković|first=Željko|date=25 May 2021|title=Moro: Sad je važno jer su svi glavom na moru...|url=https://www.vecernji.hr/sport/moro-sad-je-vazno-jer-su-svi-glavom-na-moru-1495287|access-date=21 September 2021|website=Večernji list|language=hr}}{{Cite web|last=Olivari|first=Davorin|date=31 May 2021|title=Ispred mladih Vatrenih je najteži mogući ispit! Igor Bišćan ne želi otkriti sastav za sudar s Furijom|url=https://sportske.jutarnji.hr/sn/nogomet/reprezentacija/ispred-mladih-vatrenih-je-najtezi-moguci-ispit-igor-biscan-ne-zeli-otkriti-sastav-za-sudar-s-furijom-15077175|access-date=21 September 2021|website=Sportske novosti|language=hr-hr}}{{Cite web|date=31 May 2021|title=Dramatična borba za polufinale Europskog prvenstva: Hrvatska pala tek u produžecima|url=https://gol.dnevnik.hr/clanak/rubrika/nogomet/hrvatska-nije-uspjela-proci-u-polufinale-europskog-prvenstva-za-mlade---653977.html|access-date=21 September 2021|website=Gol.hr|language=hr}}
On 17 May 2021, Moro was named in the preliminary 34-man squad for the UEFA Euro 2020,{{cite web |url=https://gol.dnevnik.hr/clanak/rubrika/nogomet/popis-hrvatske-za-euro-2020-ovo-je-26-vatrenih-koji-putuju-na-europsko-prvenstvo---652063.html |title=Dalić objavio popis za Euro 2020: Poznato svih 26 imena, izbornik objasnio iznenađenje |website=Gol.hr |date=17 May 2021 |access-date=21 December 2022 |lang=hr}} but did not make the final 26.{{cite web |url=https://gol.dnevnik.hr/clanak/hrvatska-reprezentacija/zlatko-dalic-potvrdio-popis-26-igraca-za-europsko-prvenstvo-2020---654181.html |title=Sada je konačno: Dalić potvrdio popis od 26 igrača za Euro 2020 |website=Gol.hr |date=1 June 2021 |access-date=21 December 2022 |lang=hr |author=HINA |author-link=Croatian News Agency}} He earned his first call-up to the senior Croatia team on 16 August 2021, ahead of the September World Cup qualifiers against Russia, Slovakia and Slovenia.{{Cite web|last=Olivari|first=Davorin|date=17 August 2021|title=Bio je kapetan mlade Hrvatske, a sad je napokon među Vatrenima: ‘Tata je najsretniji čovjek na svijetu!‘|url=https://sportske.jutarnji.hr/sn/nogomet/reprezentacija/bio-je-kapetan-mlade-hrvatske-a-sad-je-napokon-medu-vatrenima-tata-je-najsretniji-covjek-na-svijetu-15095393|access-date=21 September 2021|website=Sportske novosti|language=hr-hr}} However, he did not debut until 29 March 2022, when he made an appearance in a friendly 2–1 victory over Bulgaria.{{Cite web |date=29 March 2022 |title=Nikola Moro debitirao je za reprezentaciju u prijateljskoj utakmici protiv Bugarske |url=https://telesport.telegram.hr/na-prvu/nikola-moro-debitirao-je-za-reprezentaciju-u-prijateljskoj-utakmici-protiv-bugarske/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220329163744/https://telesport.telegram.hr/na-prvu/nikola-moro-debitirao-je-za-reprezentaciju-u-prijateljskoj-utakmici-protiv-bugarske/ |archive-date=29 March 2022 |access-date=3 April 2022 |website=Telesport |language=hr}}{{Cite web |date=29 March 2022 |title=VIDEO Hrvatska preokretom pobijedila Bugarsku na krilima Andreja Kramarića! |url=https://gol.dnevnik.hr/clanak/hrvatska-reprezentacija/hrvatska-bugarska-prijenos-opet-u-ranom-terminu-poznat-sastav---716475.html |access-date=3 April 2022 |website=Gol.hr |language=hr}}
Career statistics
=Club=
{{updated|match played 18 May 2025}}{{Soccerway|nikola-moro/386611}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|National cup{{efn|Includes Croatian Cup, Russian Cup, Coppa Italia}} !colspan="2"|Europe !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| rowspan="4"|Dinamo Zagreb II
|rowspan="3"|Druga HNL |12 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 12 | 0 | ||||
| 2016–17
|13 | 5 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 13 | 5 | ||||
| 2018–19
|5 | 2 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 5 | 2 | ||||
| colspan="2"|Total
!30 | 7 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 30 | 7 | ||||
| rowspan="6"|Dinamo Zagreb
|rowspan="5"|Prva HNL |1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 2 | 0 | |||
| 2016–17
|15 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1{{efn|name=UCL|Appearances in UEFA Champions League}} | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 18 | 1 | ||
| 2017–18
|24 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 4{{efn|name=UEL|Appearances in UEFA Europa League}} | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 30 | 4 | ||
| 2018–19
|19 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4{{efn|name=UEL}} | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 24 | 3 | ||
| 2019–20
|28 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 9{{efn|name=UCL}} | 0 | 1{{efn|Appearance in Croatian Super Cup}} | 0 | 41 | 2 | |
| colspan="2"|Total
!87 | 10 | 9 | 0 | 18 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 115 | 10 | |
| rowspan="4"|Dynamo Moscow
|rowspan="3"|Russian Premier League |24 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0{{efn|name=UEL}} | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 26 | 3 | ||
| 2021–22
|28 | 1 | 6 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 34 | 2 | |||
| 2022–23
|6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 6 | 0 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!58 | 4 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 66 | 5 | ||
| Bologna (loan)
|26 | 1 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 28 | 1 | |||
| rowspan="3"|Bologna
|rowspan="2"|Serie A |23 | 1 | 4 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 27 | 2 | |||
| 2024–25
|22 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 7{{efn|name=UCL}} | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 32 | 0 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!45 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 7 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 59 | 2 | ||
| colspan="3"|Career total
!246 | 23 | 26 | 2 | 25 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 298 | 25 |
{{notelist}}
=International=
{{updated|match played 9 June 2025}}{{cite web |title=Nikola Moro, international footballer |url=https://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=31888 |website=EU-Football.info |access-date=29 March 2022}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year !National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals | ||
| rowspan="3"|Croatia
|2022 | 1 | 0 |
| 2024 | 1 | 0 |
| 2025 | 2 | 0 |
| colspan="2"|Total | 4 | 0 |
|---|
Honours
Dinamo Zagreb
- Prva HNL: 2015–16, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20
- Croatian Cup: 2015–16, 2017–18
- Croatian Super Cup: 2019
Bologna
- Coppa Italia: 2024–25{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/live/clyglj8evzgt|title=AC Milan 0–1 Bologna: Bologna win Coppa Italia to end 51-year trophy drought|work=BBC Sport|date=14 May 2025|access-date=14 May 2025}}
Individual
- 2015 UEFA European Under-17 Championship Team of the Tournament{{cite web|title=Team of the Tournament|url=http://www.uefa.com/under17/season=2015/technical-report/uefa-technical-team/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150729224331/http://www.uefa.com/under17/season=2015/technical-report/uefa-technical-team/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=29 July 2015|website=UEFA.com |publisher=Union of European Football Associations|access-date=20 July 2015}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- [https://www.bolognafc.it/player/nikola-moro/ Profile] at the Bologna FC 1909 website
- {{CFF player}}
- {{UEFA player}}
{{Bologna FC 1909 squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Moro, Nikola}}
Category:Footballers from Split-Dalmatia County
Category:Footballers from Split, Croatia
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Croatian men's footballers
Category:21st-century Croatian sportsmen
Category:Croatia men's youth international footballers
Category:Croatia men's under-21 international footballers
Category:Croatia men's international footballers
Category:GNK Dinamo Zagreb II players
Category:GNK Dinamo Zagreb players
Category:FC Dynamo Moscow players
Category:Bologna FC 1909 players
Category:First Football League (Croatia) players
Category:Croatian Football League players
Category:Russian Premier League players
Category:Croatian expatriate men's footballers
Category:Croatian expatriate sportspeople in Russia
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Russia