Rodrigo Moledo


Rodrigo Modesto da Silva Moledo is a Brazilian footballer who plays at Internacional as a centre back.

Club career

Born in Rio de Janeiro, he started in early 2008 to play football in the second division of Campeonato Catarinense attracted the interest of União Esporte Clube, a Brazilian football team from Rondonópolis, Mato Grosso. In the summer of 2009, they sent him on a loan in the Polish club Odra Wodzisław. By the end of the season, he returned to Brazil playing for União Esporte Clube helping them to win the 2010 Regional championship. His playing attracted the officials of the Internacional in a game for the Copa do Brasil. In 2011, he signed with them. He scored his first goal for the club on 7 September 2011, in 4-2 victory against America Mineiro in the Campeonato Brasileiro.
In 2013, Metalist Kharkiv acquired Rodrigo Moledo for R$ 20.51 million. In Ukraine, the beginning was exciting and Moledo he started playing important matches, but a serious knee injury kept him out of for a number of games. In 2013-14 season, Moledo started in the Champions League qualifying round against PAOK. He had a vital role for the club in all competitions.
Brazilian central defender Rodrigo Moledo, after a six months contract with his old club Internacional, will be a member of Panathinaikos until the summer of 2018. This will be the second spell of the 28-year-old former international in a European club, after his two years he spent at Metalist Kharkiv. On 19 March 2016, the Brazilian central defender scored twice against Iraklis for Super League game and expressed his happiness for his team's victory. His excellent performance during the second half of the season, attracts the interest of Fluminense FC and Peñarol in signing Panathinaikos' Brazilian central defender. However the officials of the Greek club have no intention to sell the 28-year-old former international, since manager Andrea Stramaccioni considers him to be one of the most important players in the current squad. On 28 July 2016, he scored the only goal in a UEFA Europa League game against AIK for the first leg of the third qualifying round.
He started the 2016–17 season as the indisputable leader of the Greens' defence. On 14 February 2017, Panathinaikos defender is believed to be unhappy for not having his contract renewed as ex-Panathinaikos manager Andrea Stramaccioni promised him. According to newspapers, Moledo had agreed with Stramaccioni for a new deal until 2020. However, the Italian manager left the Greens and talks with Panathinaikos have been put on hold. His contract runs out in 2018, however Panathinaikos technical director Nikos Lyberopoulos has told him that he remains an indispensable member of the squad.
Panathinaikos defender Rodrigo Moledo could stay at the club despite the rumours lately over a possible return to Brazil. On 30 June 2017, the administration of Panathinaikos has decided to offer him a two-season extension with better financial terms and the Brazilian defender is strongly considering to accept its bid, in spite of Besiktas JK and Sport Club Internacional transfer interest.
On mid December 2017, ex- club of Moledo, Internacional will most likely return in January transfer window, for the purchase of experienced central defender of Panathinaikos. The current contract of 30-year-old Brazilian former international with the financially struggling Greens expires in the summer of 2018.
Eventually, on 10 January 2018, Moledo signed a contract with Sport Club Internacional, a deal which will begin on July 1 after his current agreement with Panathinaikos runs out. The revelation came as bad news for the Greens. Taking into account the terrible financial situation surrounding the fallen Athenian giants, Panathinaikos were eager to sell Moledo in the winter to receive well-needed money for the 31-year old. PAOK, who have been chasing Moledo for the past few weeks, are focused on loaning the Brazilian from the Greens for the remainder of the 2017-2018 season. PAOK are offering Panathinaikos €300,000 for Moledo’s loan, including the services of Ergys Kace and Dimitris Konstantinidis for the second half of this season. Eventually on 25 January 2018, Moledo will transfer to Internacional, due to a debt with the player and with a fear to file an appeal against Panathinaikos for payments' delay, the club has no alternative but to accept an offer of €150,000 from the Colorados for immediate exit.

International career

On April 19, 2013, Moledo was called up for Brazilian Team by coach Scolari for Brazil's April 24 friendly against Chile as a replacement for Henrique, who was playing a match for his club the next day.
However, CONMEBOL moved Palmeiras game to the next week, allowing Scolari to recall Henrique while keeping Moledo in the squad.

Honours

International
Individual