JOSE MOURINHO could lure a number of his favourite players to Roma after he was named as the club’s new manager for next season.
The Special One will take the reins in the Italian capital ahead of the 2021-22 season after it was announced Paulo Fonseca would leave at the end of the current campaign.
Mourinho was axed by Spurs just two weeks ago after 17 months in charge but has already announced his next move.
The 58-year-old has also signed on to be SunSport’s star columnist for the delayed Euros this summer and will be heard on talkSPORT.
SunSport looks at seven former Mourinho favourites who could be tempted to make the trip to Rome with him.
Erik Lamela
Spurs forward Erik Lamela was already linked with a return to Roma before Mourinho’s surprise announcement as the new boss.
The Argentine ace has spent eight years at Tottenham since arriving for £27million from the Italian side in 2013.
Reports out of Italy suggest his representatives are working on a return to the country and with his contract expiring in 2022 – if Spurs want to recoup a transfer fee he will have to be moved on this summer.
Napoli and Bologna have been mentioned but it is thought that the player would love a return to his old side and Mourinho’s arrival is only likely to strengthen that feeling.
The Portuguese boss hailed Lamela as an ‘amazing guy’ after a game against Chelsea last year.
He said: “That’s Lamela. Amazing guy, fantastic player and trying to help the team.”
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Raphael Varane
Mourinho signed Real Madrid centre-back Raphael Varane from Lens in 2011 and the pair have maintained a great bond.
He tried to land the Frenchman while at Manchester United and Varane told L’Equipe in 2017: “I had a special relationship with Mourinho.”
United and Chelsea target Varane – who could leave Madrid this summer with his contract expiring in 2022 – even revealed it was tough to turn down his old boss when he came knocking.
At the time, he told Canal+: “It was flattering to hear of United’s interest. Mourinho is the one who made me come to Real Madrid and they are a great club.
“I always said that I felt good in Madrid. It is not easy to say no to Jose Mourinho, but you have to weigh the pros and cons.”
Nemanja Matic
Serbian hardman Nemanja Matic could make it a hat-trick if he follows Mourinho to Roma.
The 32-year-old midfielder has already followed him to Chelsea and Manchester United.
Last summer, Matic signed a contract extension at Old Trafford until 2023 after the club changed their stance on the matter.
However, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s preference of Scott McTominay and Fred in the heart of midfield, the former Benfica man could be lured away from the club.
Eric Bailly
Eric Bailly revealed the Special One was a key part of the reason he snubbed Manchester City.
The Ivorian centre-back revealed Mourinho’s phone call helped seal the deal for United when he was choosing where to go from Villarreal in 2016.
The 27-year-old has just signed a long-term deal at the club until 2024 but it was penned on the understanding he would see an increase in game time.
Bailly was Mourinho’s first signing at Old Trafford and after he got the sack, the player tweeted: “Whatever they may say, I will always be thankful to the person who gave me the chance to make my debut at Old Trafford.
“Thank you for what you have taught me. Good luck, coach.”
Joe Rodon
Mourinho chased after Swansea’s Joe Rodon in the summer transfer window and finally got his man for £15million on deadline day.
Mourinho gave the Welshman plenty of opportunities – and came out and publicly backed him despite his gaffe against Liverpool – so could welcome him abroad.
After the game in January, he said: “When I have a player who makes one mistake, it doesn’t matter how big the mistake was, but completely out of the context of a very good, solid performance I only have to support the player and protect the player and the best way to do that is to play the next game for sure.
“The third goal hurts me because it was a mistake by a kid who played very, very well. Joe Rodon played very, very well, so I feel very sorry for him and I’m happy with him.”
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg
Another signing Mourinho made at Spurs was defensive midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.
The Danish ace penned a five-year deal from Southampton last August and previously revealed he was ‘proud’ to play under Mourinho.
He said: “At Spurs, Mourinho makes us as one machine. I am proud to be part of this machine.”
Eden Hazard
With Eden Hazard having starred at Mourinho’s Chelsea and struggling to make a success of his time at Real Madrid, it is not impossible that he could join Roma and reunite with his old manager in order to resurrect his career.
The Belgian ace has struggled with form and fitness since swapping Stamford Bridge for the Bernabeu and with Los Blancos lining up a £154m swoop for Erling Haaland he could find himself moved on.
The trickster publicly admitted he wasn’t fit enough to start the 2015-16 season which proved to be Mourinho’s last.
And Mourinho was impressed with his brutal honesty, telling Sky Sports in 2018: “He is a good kid, or he was a good kid with me and he is now a good man because three or four years have matured him.
“I think it is a very honest comment, I think he knows how good he is and how much he can influence the history of his team.”
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
