José Mourinho reportedly wants at least three signings at Roma, while Henrikh Mkhitaryan faces an uncertain future.
Roma suddenly announced the appointment of the Special One today. The Portuguese tactician returns to Serie A after he left Inter in 2010.
According to Sky Sport Italia, Mourinho has already decided his transfer targets for the summer.
The 58-year-old wants a new goalkeeper, a striker to back-up Edin Dzeko, who is expected to remain at the club, and a centre midfielder. Mourinho is aware the Giallorossi won’t be able to make big-money signings in the summer.
Several other reports in Italy, including one of ForzaRoma.info, suggest the future of Henrikh Mkhitaryan is now uncertain.
The Armenian star will see his contract expire at the end of the season.
Last year, the former Manchester United midfielder claimed Mourinho is the ‘most complicated’ coach he’s had in his career.
“[My relationship] with Mourinho was the most complicated in my career; he is a winner by nature,” he told Yevgeny Savin.
“He wants you to win and you do what he asks you, it is difficult for anyone.
“There were differences and conflicts, but they did not have a big impact on the hard work we did and the three trophies we won.”
Mourinho has also coached Chris Smalling and Pedro who are both part of Roma's current team.
In 2017, The Special One revealed he had joked with the English defender before the Europa League Final against Ajax.
“We wanted to create instability. We would let them play out from the back while blocking De Ligt, their right centre-back, making them play through Davinson Sanches who had more trouble,” Mourinho said, according to Tribuna Expresso.
“We’d make our full back close down well that central space and if the ball entered a wide area for their winger, the full-back would close him down and Herrera would be the one covering that space in midfield.
“We prepare a game better when we’re aware of our own weaknesses. Everyone said Ajax played beautiful football and that the beauty of the game matters. I told my players that, for me, beautiful is not giving our opponents what they want. ‘I even joked with Smalling – ‘With your feet, we’re for sure not playing out from the back!’”
Back in 2015, Mourinho pushed to sign Pedro from Barcelona with the Spaniard who chose the Blues over Manchester United.
Pedro’s contract also expires in the summer, but Mourinho’s arrival in the Capital could lead to his permanence.
Alessandro Florenzi liked Roma’s Instagram post announcing Mourinho’s appointment and the Italian could return to his former club when his loan spell at PSG ends in June.
Mourinho is expected to use a 4-2-3-1 formation and according to Sky Sport Italia he will only move to Italy at the end of the season as he doesn’t want to misrespect Paulo Fonseca.
The latter will remain in charge of Roma for the last five games of the season.
Source: m.allfootballapp.com