After the departure of Aleksandar Mitrović from the Premier League, the Cottagers scoured all over the football realm in hopes of filling in the void the Serbian striker left. Fulham’s search was so extensive that they opted to cash in early on their investment playing in the EFL Championship, little did they know that their loanee in Middlesbrough would be the future cornerstone at Craven Cottage.
It’s none other than 22-year-old forward, Rodrigo Muniz. The budding Brazilian is one of the hottest commodities in the Premier League as of late, and has become the spearhead for Marco Silva’s offence.
But before we give Rodrigo Muniz all his flowers, let’s step back and take a look at his journey from São Domingos do Prata to Craven Cottage.
Early beginnings
Born on the 4th of March, 2001, in São Domingos do Prata’s vibrant neighborhoods, Muniz’s passion for football ignited at an early age. His skills and untapped potential in the sport weren’t left unnoticed.
Blessed with natural talent and an unwavering determination, Muniz caught the eye of local scouts, who recognised his potential to rise above and make his mark, at least on a domestic level.
At the tender age of 14 years old, the young Muniz had already moved out of his family home and started his journey in the realm of professional football with Desportivo Brasil, whom he played for between 2016 and 2018.
Muniz progressed and spent no time honing his skills throughout his time at Desportivo, boasting as the top scorer in the 2016 season with 34 goals in all competitions and a runners-up finish to boot. He was quick to prove doubters wrong and proceeded to once again finish as the club’s top goal scorer in the following season with 25 goals.
The prolific forward was inducted into the club’s Hall of Fame years later.
Stardom awaits
After his short but sweet stint with Desportivo Brasil, Muniz joined Flamengo as a youth player, one of the most illustrious clubs in Brazil. There, Muniz contributed to the club’s Copa do Brasil Sub-17 title in 2018 and later became a pivotal piece for Flamengo to win four trophies the next season.
His efforts were rewarded, as Flamengo offered Muniz his first professional contract, keeping him until 2024, proving that the budding star is worth the investment and trust.
In 2020, Muniz’s dream became a reality when he made his senior debut for Flamengo. He scored his first goal for the club on January 25, 2020, against Volta Redonda in the Campeonato Carioca at the roaring Maracanã Stadium.
He only graced the pitch four times in the 2020 season, all coming on as a substitute, but his contributions helped the club win the league that season, a solid start to his senior career.
After another year as a Flamengo player with a total of 25 appearances, nine goals in all competitions, a Campeonato Carioca title, and a loan spell to Coritiba, the budding Muniz packed his bags to embark on a new journey that entailed a move to English football.
The summer of 2021 saw the Cottagers secure the services of the young Brazilian striker for a bargain price of only £7 million. Flamengo and Fulham officially announced the transfer on August 20, 2021.
Life as a Cottager
Muniz was slowly but surely injected into Marco Silva’s system, but his playing time was scarce due to the presence of the goal-scoring machine, Aleksandar Mitrović.
At this point, for the Cottagers, the collective goal was to be promoted back to the Premier League. To do so, they’d need to win the championship, and like clockwork, Fulham summited the league standings. By the end of the 2021–22 season, Muniz had tallied twenty-five appearances and scored five goals in all competitions, earning a promotion to the top flight to boot.
A year after his transfer to Fulham, Muniz signed for Championship club Middlesbrough on a season-long loan, donning the number nine shirt. However, Middlesbrough manager Michael Carrick limited Muniz’s first team opportunities, opting to play his number nine from the substitute bench.
By the end of his loan, Muniz had only made seventeen appearances for Middlesbrough and only found the back of the net twice in all competitions.
From loanee to Craven Cottage staple
In the 2023–24 season, Aleksandar Mitrović’s departure to Al Hilal SFC opened opportunities for Muniz to have proper playing time, as Marco Silva entrusted him, Raul Jimenez, and Carlos Vinicius as Fulham’s main strikers.
The departure of their number one option, Mitrović, saw Fulham struggle and fall behind in the Premier League standings. It was somewhat expected that the Cottagers would need some time to figure things out, and Fulham fans, this SBOTOP writer included, could only wait and see if or when Marco Silva’s boys find their identity later on in the campaign. This saw their stock and Premier League 2024 odds plummet.
Alas, thanks in no small part to the 22-year-old Brazilian sensation, Fulham found their footing and started putting up remarkable Premier League 2024 results during the second half of the season.
As of late, Muniz has scored eight goals in eight games. He was also recently named Premier League Player of the Month of March thanks to his pivotal brace against Tottenham, a goal and an assist over Brighton, and a key leveller against Sheffield United.
He is also Fulham’s leading goal scorer this season, with nine goals and one assist in 28 games played. Cementing his case as one of the best rising stars in the Premier League.
But it’s not just his prowess in front of goal that endeared Muniz to the Fulham faithful; it’s also his tireless work ethic, his never-say-die attitude, and his unwavering commitment to the cause. Whether chasing down lost causes or inspiring his teammates with moments of individual brilliance, he embodied the spirit of a true leader on the pitch.
Marco Silva and Fulham fans finally have a new ace, and all are hoping that Rodrigo Muniz will call Craven Cottage his home for a very long time.
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