Rogerio – Sassuolo’s ball-playing left back
Juventus have a replenished set of fullbacks as they have allowed Pol Lirola and subsequently Rogerio to join Sassuolo as both have developed into one of the better fullback duos in Serie A. Brazil have a long lineage of marauding left backs as Rogerio is next on the production line but is unique in his ability as an extra midfielder rather than an extra winger. Rogerio is quintessentially a midfielder playing at fullback donning the number six on his back and executing fine ball-playing abilities to evade pressure and be a vital conduit in Sassuolo’s dominant high-possession style.
Rogerio is from Nobres in the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso as he left home for Porto Alegre at the age of 12 for Internacional. At the age of 18, he departed again, this time for Juventus as he has since spent two seasons on loan at Sassuolo. The left-back has also participated for Brazil at U17 and U20 level while his current club have a strong interest in permanently acquiring him from Juventus. Before joining Juventus, Bayern Munich, Monaco and Bayer Leverkusen were interested in him as he will have no shortage of suitors this summer.
Rogerio has been deployed primarily at left-back but can move to wing-back when Sassuolo switch to a 3-5-2 as his extraordinary ball-playing abilities allow him to have a large influence on Roberto De Zerbi’s side in possession. The Brazilian will regularly move into the six space to receive possession as he is well-versed in letting the ball roll to his left foot when receiving possession to shield the ball and beat pressure. Rogerio is also gifted at passing the ball through the lines as he continuously seeks to instigate attacking moves with audacious passes through opposition lines of pressure.
If the Brazilian is in his natural left-back position, he is positioned deeper and closer to his centre-backs to receive possession and combine so that they can work the ball through the centre. If the centre-backs are man-marked, they will play the ball out to Rogerio on the flank who will then work passes into the six space. The Brazilian youth international is one of the most press resistant fullbacks, not only because of his passing but also because of his dribbling abilities. Rogerio will frequently weave past a winger and play a diagonal pass to the opposite flank to switch the point of build-up play.
Against Inter Milan, he had a moment where he received a pass on his left foot to beat former teammate, Matteo Politano before executing an elaborate feint to send Mauro Icardi running in the wrong direction to create space for a pass to the ball-far centre-back. He then took on a pass and lofted a ball to his fellow fullback on the opposite flank. He repeated the trick away to Lazio when he took on a loose ball to turn and work a pass into Stefano Sensi who played the ball back to him as he drove into the centre, feinted past the lurking striker and played a pass to the centre-back on the opposite flank to create space.
Rogerio is not just a gifted diagonal passer but is a talented vertical passer as he can play simple, shorter passes through the lines instead of more high risk passes. Against Fiorentina, he took on a pass from a centre-back, to roll the ball back against his left foot as he waited for two Viola players to engage him before playing pass through the lines into midfield. He then moved into midfield to win the ball back after it was lost higher up the pitch, to play a pass through to Alfred Duncan in between the lines.
Rogerio and his fellow fullback, Lirola stretch the pitch and bring width to Sassuolo’s play in the attacking zones. Against Fiorentina, there was an instance where Lirola crossed the ball for the Brazilian opposite him to divert the ball wide at the far post. Rogerio can also play perfectly weighted pin-point crosses into the box when he is on the overlap. Rogerio is left-footed and prefers to receive the ball on his left foot as this makes it much easier for him to cross. He does not have to cut inside his marker or play a combination to get into the proper crossing body position. Against Napoli, he took on a pass with his left foot and crossed to the back-post for an onrushing Duncan to head wide. In an away match against Inter Milan, he took on a Manuel Locatelli cross to chip a ball for Kevin Prince Boateng to mis-control.
Rogerio possesses a lanky and long-limbed frame allowing him to be effective in challenging to win back possession. He also possesses incredible recovery speed over short distances giving him the opportunity to chase after markers when he is beaten in an effort to make a second challenge to recover possession. His long legs allow him to poke the ball out of a striker’s control while he can also acrobatically intercept possession with loose balls into his channel. Rogerio can be too overzealous in trying to win possession as he can lunge into fouls to concede free-kicks in dangerous areas while he is also prone to going to ground too soon at times.
“The coach is giving me so much confidence and I always try to repay him. I am happy with the path I am taking, even though I am convinced that I still have to improve a lot. De Zerbi gives security and clear game ideas. It always allows us to express our best and I think everyone has understood what he wants to convey,” said Rogerio to Parlando di Sport during a press conference in November, last year.
Sassuolo are confident of sealing the permanent transfer of Rogerio or loaning him for another season while the Brazilian has earned admiring glances from clubs around Europe. He has been touted as a possible replacement for another press resistant left back in Borussia Dortmund’s Real Madrid loanee, Achraf Hakimi who will be staying in the Bundesliga for another season. Rogerio is still only 21-years-old and could represent a bargain for a top team looking for a reliable and long-term option at left-back.
