Andrei Borza is a 19-year-old left-back from Romania who plays for Rapid Bucharest in the Superliga. He is also able to play as a left-wingback, as he already did it during his career. Borza is around 1 meter and 80 centimeters tall and has an athletic, mesomorphic body build. The talented left-back also already showed his talents on the international stage, with multiple selections for the Romanian U21 team, who qualified for the upcoming U21 EURO. Borza has already played more than 100 professional games and looks like he’s ready for a step up.
Like said earlier, Borza has a decent athletic body build. He is pretty ready physically, but his balance and agility also definitely help him in ground duels. Borza possesses good pace and acceleration, allowing him to make effective overlapping runs down the flank. His stamina is also one of his strongest assets, as he can maintain high intensity throughout the game without dropping his mark. His jumping ability is not really great. He is not a good header and not a major aerial threat either, which can be a disadvantage against taller or even smaller opponents. His agility also works in attacks, as it helps him maneuver in tight spaces and remain composed under pressure. Mentally, he is focused and composed, mostly showing maturity. But he can look sometimes heated when he gives a bad pass, or he doesn’t receive the ball. He can also have an argument with an opponent and the referee, but it’s nothing dangerous. Borza is a passionate footballer, who also fights for the ball while defending.
Borza is a very active player who likes to engage in duels early rather than sitting back. He can come from his cover and let his opponent run deep, just to intercept the ball. It’s something dangerous, but most often it succeeds for him. His tackling technique is good, as it’s something he does quite often. He times his challenges well and often wins the ball cleanly without fouling. He tracks his opponent well during attacks or counter attacks and doesn’t lose him often from his sight. His defensive awareness could be improved, as at times he can be overly aggressive while pressing higher up the pitch, leaving space behind him that can be used by an unmarked opponent. Same for his defensive 1v1s. He sometimes waits too long with putting his foot in, making it easy for his opponent to go past. His positioning inside the box is decent, but like said earlier he could improve in aerial battles, as opponents stronger than him in the air can beat him. He often uses his arms in aerial duels, which could bring up some eventual fouls against him. Despite these areas for improvement, his energy and determination make him a good defensive presence who is difficult to beat.
Borza is very comfortable on the ball and plays with confidence when progressing with the ball. His dribbling ability is above average for a full-back, and he is not afraid to take on his marker in one-on-one situations. He mostly uses his left foot, so while dribbling he often just goes to the outside. He times his overlaps well and can deliver good, low, crosses into the box, making him an asset in attacking transitions. His short passing is good and accurate, allowing him to link up well with midfielders and wingers. Borza also likes to just give low passes forward into space or to a teammate who is way ahead forward. While he can give a decent shot with his left foot, he does not shoot often, as he is more focused on playmaking from the left flank. His decision-making in the final third could still be a bit refined, as he sometimes hesitates under pressure leading to missed opportunities in attack. Borza doesn’t enter the box often, but he can cut more inside during the attacks. Sometimes into a position like a midfielder or even higher up the field, but that happens rarely.
Andrei Borza is a promising inverting full-back with a strong work ethic and technical quality. His will to contribute both defensively and offensively makes him a well-rounded player, and with good further development, he has the potential to play at a good level team in the future. After more than 100 games in Romania, Borza should look for a higher step in the summer. He is ready to play at a better league, where he could develop even better at than in Romania. Austria, Netherlands, Belgium, Czech Republic are all good examples of it. So, watch out for him, as it’s a player who could perform well during the upcoming U21 EURO!
Target Scouting 