Serie A

JOSE MOURINHO will head to Italy to take over as Roma manager next season.The Portuguese boss was named as new head coach of the Serie A side on Tuesday.

Mourinho will have plenty of work to get on with – after writing for SunSport during the Euros this summer of course.
Here, we take a look at some of the key tasks Mourinho will have to solve when he takes the helm in Italy.
EURO VISION
Roma are seventh in Serie A and cannot finish in the top four.
And they’ll need an absolute miracle against Manchester United in the Europa League semi-final second leg this week to come from 6-2 behind.
Mourinho’s first task will be to get this proud club back into the Champions League.
They were semi-finalists just three years ago when they were beaten by Liverpool but it’s been downhill ever since.
Roma were thrashed by Manchester United in the Europa League semi-final first leg on Thursday and need a miracle to qualify for the Champions LeagueCredit: Getty
SMALL TALK
The new Roma manager will have to build bridges with Chris Smalling after their spell at Manchester United.
Mourinho questioned Smalling’s professionalism and desire and even made a joke about his feet, saying “we’re for sure not playing out from the back”.
He also had an indifferent relationship with Henrikh Mkhitaryan at Old Trafford.
Both Smalling and Mkhitaryan have rediscovered themselves in Roma and now face the prospect of working with their former boss again.
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Jose Mourinho will have to get on the same page with Chris Smalling in RomeCredit: Reuters
SQUAD GOALS
Roma will need a fresh injection of talent if they’re to compete at the top of Serie A again.
Erik Lamela has been linked with a Tottenham exit and got on well under Mourinho at Spurs.
A reunion at Roma – with Lamela returning to the club where he enjoyed arguably the best season of his career – could work for all parties.
Talking of reunions, Mourinho just loves Nemanja Matic and the Serb is struggling for playing time at Manchester United.
Could he sign him again?
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Erik Lamela has been linked with a Spurs exit, and signing for Roma would be an interesting moveCredit: The Sun
Jose Mourinho could also reunite with Nemanja Matic in the middle of the parkCredit: Getty

INTER CONNECT
Mourinho will have to deal with his former club Inter Milan being domestic champions when he joins Roma.
The man who took them there is the man who took his Chelsea team to Premier League glory in Antonio Conte.
And among their squad are ex-Manchester United players Romelu Lukaku, Alexis Sanchez, Matteo Darmian and Ashley Young.
It’s fair to say there are plenty of familiar characters in this particular Mourinho storyline.
That will surely only make it sweeter for him if he’s able to take Roma back to the top of the Italian game.
Jose Mourinho led Inter Milan to a famous Treble – now he takes over at Roma with his former club top of the shop in Italy againCredit: AP
Jose Mourinho named Roma manager on three-year contract More

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.
Jose Mourinho could bring some of his old favourite stars on board at RomaCredit: AP
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
Jose Mourinho praised Erik Lamela at TottenhamCredit: The Sun
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 brought Raphael Varane to Real MadridCredit: Getty Images – Getty
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
Nemanja Matic and Mourinho know each other well form Chelsea and Manchester UnitedCredit: Getty
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
Mourinho convinced Eric Bailly to join Manchester UnitedCredit: Reuters
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 signed Joe Rodon from SwanseaCredit: Getty
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
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg revealed he was proud to play under Mourinho at SpursCredit: Reuters
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
Eden Hazard starred under Mourinho at ChelseaCredit: Reuters
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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Jose Mourinho named Roma manager on three-year contract More

JOSE MOURINHO has been named as the new Roma boss ahead of next season.The Special One was sacked by Spurs just two weeks ago after 17 months in charge with Tottenham’s chances of qualifying for Europe hanging in the balance.
Jose Mourinho’s next job is at Roma in Serie ACredit: PA

The Italian side announced Paulo Fonseca would leave the club at the end of the season earlier on Tuesday before confirming the Portuguese would be his replacement on a three-year deal ahead of the 2021-22 campaign.
Mourinho has already signed on as SunSport’s columnist for the delayed Euros and will also be heard on talkSPORT during the summer tournament.
Roma president Dan Friedkin and vice president Ryan Friedkin said: “We are thrilled and delighted to welcome José Mourinho into the AS Roma family.
“A great champion who has won trophies at every level, José will provide tremendous leadership and experience to our ambitious project.
“The appointment of José is a huge step in building a long-term and consistent winning culture throughout the club.”
Mourinho was relieved of his duties at Spurs just six days before the Carabao Cup final which the club lost 1-0 to Manchester City under the guidance of interim boss Ryan Mason, 29.
The former Manchester United and Chelsea boss said the vision of a winning project and the passion of the Roma fans attracted him to the role in Serie A.
Mourinho previously managed Inter Milan in the Italian league and signed off with a treble in 2010 with Roma coincidentally being the last side to defeat his Inter team in Serie A.
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Mourinho, 58, added: “Thank you to the Friedkin family for choosing me to lead this great club and to be part of their vision.
“After meetings with the ownership and Tiago Pinto, I immediately understood the full extent of their ambitions for AS Roma.
“It is the same ambition and drive that has always motivated me and together we want to build a winning project over the upcoming years.
“The incredible passion of the Roma fans convinced me to accept the job and I cannot wait to start next season.
“In the meantime, I wish Paulo Fonseca all the best and I hope the media appreciate that I will only speak further in due course. Daje Roma!”
Roma’s general manager Tiago Pinto revealed the club, who are seventh in Serie A with four games to play, jumped at the chance to appoint Mourinho.
The incredible passion of the Roma fans convinced me to accept the job and I cannot wait to start next season.”Jose Mourinho
He said: “When José became available, we immediately jumped at the chance to speak with one of the greatest managers of all time.
“We were blown away by José’s desire to win and his passion for the game: no matter how many trophies he has won, his primary focus is always on the next one. 
“He possesses the knowledge, experience and leadership to compete at all levels.
“We know that in order to build a successful sporting project it takes time, patience and the right people in the right positions.
“We are supremely confident that José will be the perfect coach for our project, for both our immediate and long-term future.
“Together with the vision and ambition of Dan and Ryan Friedkin, we will build the foundations of a new AS Roma.”
Roma were thrashed 6-2 by United at Old Trafford in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final last week.
Edinson Cavani inspired United to a 6-2 thrashing of Roma in the Europa League last fourCredit: AP
Chris Smalling endured a nightmare return to Old TraffordCredit: Getty
The Italians were ahead 2-1 at the break and looked well poised to continue Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s semi-final hoodoo.
But Fonseca’s men were thumped 5-0 in the second-half to all but end their hopes of making the final.
Mourinho could even be in the stands in the Olympic Stadium for the return leg on Thursday.
Chris Smalling endured a nightmare return to Manchester after joining Roma permanently at the start of the season.
The defender upended Edinson Cavani to give away a penalty that Bruno Fernandes dispatched to make it 4-2.
And the 31-cap England international may not be best pleased to see his old boss Mourinho follow him to the Italian capital after the pair enjoyed a frosty relationship while together at Carrington.
Mourinho criticised Smalling for not playing through the pain along with Luke Shaw and even when praising the centre-back jokingly made fun of his haircut.
Another man in the same boat is Henrikh Mkhitaryan who publicly bashed Mourinho’s defensive style before he left for Arsenal in the swap deal that saw Alexis Sanchez move the other way in 2018.
Smalling and Mourinho did not always see eye to eyeCredit: AFP or licensors
Mourinho will be reunited with Henrik Mkhitaryan who bashed his defensive style at UnitedCredit: Getty – Contributor
Spurs are yet to replace Mourinho after seeing their top three targets all rule themselves out of the managerial vacancy.
Julian Nagelsmann has agreed to swap RB Leizpig for Bayern Munich while Leicester’s Brendan Rodgers said he wanted to stay at the Foxes and SunSport revealed that Spurs realised he would have been too expensive to prise away from the King Power.
Ajax’s Erik ten Hag signed a new deal in Amsterdam to quash speculation he would be given the Tottenham job on a permanent basis.
Roma will task Mourinho with leading the side to their first Scudetto in over 20 years.
Mourinho will aim to help Roma to their first league title since Francesco Totti skippered the side to glory under the guidance of former Three Lions boss Fabio Capello in 2000-01.
He will have to overthrow his replacement at Chelsea, Antonio Conte, after Inter Milan ended Juventus’ run of nine titles in a row over the weekend.
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Football legend Jose Mourinho signs up as The Sun’s new Euros columnist More

ROMELU LUKAKU took a not-so-subtle dig at Zlatan Ibrahimovic after Inter Milan were crowned as Serie A champions.Lukaku has been instrumental in helping the Nerazzurri win their first Scudetto since 2010, banging in 21 goals in 33 Italian top-flight games.
The real god ✝️has crowned the king! Now bow downIl nostro dio ✝️ ha incoronato i Re!Ora inchinatevi!King of Milano 😉👑 pic.twitter.com/n0gAiYWFTp— R.Lukaku Bolingoli9 (@RomeluLukaku9) May 3, 2021

Since joining from Manchester United in 2019, the Belgium international has found the back of the net a whopping 61 times in 92 matches in all competitions.
And he has struck up a rivalry with his former Red Devils team-mate Ibrahimovic, now with AC Milan, which intensified this season with the city rivals involved in a title race.
The duo have been involved in a war of words off the pitch as well as on it, with the Swedish maverick taking offence to a tweet from Lukaku last year.
Taking to social media after Inter’s 4-2 derby win in February 2020, the ex-Chelsea centre-forward tweeted: “There’s a new king in town.”
Ibrahimovic then had his revenge when AC beat Inter in October 2020 where he scored twice in a 2-1 win.
He posted: “Milan never had a king, they have a GOD.”
But Lukaku has had the final say after Inter’s Serie A success, as he uploaded a picture of himself with open arms being mobbed by his team-mates, in a snap reminiscent of what Ibrahimovic shared.
Lukaku quipped: “The real god has crowned the king! Now bow down. King of Milano.”
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Romelu Lukaku has starred for Inter Milan since joining from Manchester UnitedCredit: Reuters

Inter Milan’s top earners according to Italian publication Corriere dello Sport
And fans were quick to notice who that tweet was aimed at, as one user remarked: “Subtle dig at Zlatan Ibrahimovic.”
Another commented: “Ibrahimovic in the mud.”
A third added: “Zlatan slander? Let’s have it.”
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Fans celebrate Inter Milan winning the title Serie A football championship More

CRISTIANO RONALDO reportedly wants an emotional return to Sporting Lisbon when his Juventus contract expires next year.Italian journalist Claudio Raimondi claims the Portuguese legend, 36, is eager to see out his career with the Primeira Liga leaders.
Cristiano Ronaldo hopes to return to Sporting Lisbon when his Juventus deal expiresCredit: Reuters
Man Utd-linked Ronnie plans to stay at Juve until the summer of 2022Credit: AP
And it means his other former employers Manchester United and Real Madrid will miss out, after both were linked with moves.
Ronaldo was just 12 years old when he joined Sporting’s academy in 1997.
He was then promoted to the senior squad for the 2002/03 campaign, making his debut at 17.
Ronaldo went to score five times in 31 games that season before he was famously signed by then-United boss Sir Alex Ferguson immediately after impressing in a pre-season friendly.
But now, it is claimed, Ronnie is eager to add to his sole season with Sporting.
Ronaldo’s time at Juventus is said to be nearing its end after the Turin giants lost their grip on the Serie A title to Inter Milan.
Indeed, Andrea Pirlo’s men could yet miss out on a top four finish, denying them Champions League football next term.
United and Real, where Ronaldo won a combined five league titles and five Champions Leagues, are both reported to be preparing offers this summer should Juve miss out.
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However, Italian journalist Raimondi claims Ronaldo intends to see out the final year of his Juventus contract regardless of the circumstances.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner would then love to return to Sporting in the summer of 2022, when he would be 37 years old.
And Ronaldo would ideally spend two years there before calling it a day.
Raimondi declared: “A return to Spain with Real Madrid is not a concrete hypothesis.

“And Man United does not have the economic power to carry out such an operation.
“There are no conditions for Ronaldo to leave Juventus, especially from a personal level and of connecting to all sponsors.
“Ronaldo has an idea for the future and I reveal it first hand.
“He wants to end the cycle at Juventus and then play two years for Sporting.”
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INTER MILAN and Ajax fans brushed off Covid warnings to cram into the city streets and celebrate their teams’ title triumphs.Despite club pleas, social distancing was largely ignored as the joyous scenes unfolded.
Inter fans crowded the streets of Milan to celebrate the Serie A titleCredit: Getty
Amsterdam fans gathered outside the Johan Cruyff Arena to party togetherCredit: Getty
Antonio Conte secured their first Serie A crown since Jose Mourinho in 2009-10 and first piece of silverware for a decade when Atalanta drew 1-1 with Sassuolo.
Ajax, meanwhile, wrapped up Eredivisie crown No35 in emphatic fashion by dispatching FC Emmen 4-0.
The Dutch giants missed out on winning the title last season when the campaign was curtailed by coronavirus.
But a year on, the pandemic continues to see gathering restrictions in place.
In Italy, 9,145 new Covid-19 cases were recorded on Sunday while the figure was 5,508 in the Netherlands.
Neither country has allowed fans back into stadiums yet despite up to 500 people allowed at indoor venues such as theatres and cinemas.
By comparison, in the UK – where thousands of Manchester United fans protested against the Glazers outside Old Trafford – the figure for May 2 was 1,671.
Fans, though, could not resist joining in the celebrations in Milan and Amsterdam respectively.
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Ajax supporters were unable to celebrate a year ago because the season was scrappedCredit: AP
Manager Erik ten Hag addressed the gathered supporters belowCredit: AFP
Incredibly, it was Inter’s first piece of silverware for ten yearsCredit: Getty

And Inter striker Romelu Lukaku was also in the middle of town to party alongside supporters.
The Belgian, who is expected to stay with the new champions next season, told Sky Sport Italia: “I’m really proud to be an Inter player.
“I’ve a special feeling with this club, that’s why I decided to celebrate around the city today with our fans.”
In Amsterdam, authorities told supporters to stay at home.
They tweeted: “Do not come to the Johan Cruijff Boulevard near the Arena. It is too busy there at the moment.
“Continue to enjoy the game at home. Keep 1.5 meters away when leaving.”
Femke Halsema, the city major, added: “We had taken into account many scenarios, but we really did not expect supporters to celebrate the championship.
“Especially because it was still totally uncertain until this afternoon when Ajax would become champions.
“We do our very best to prevent new outbreaks of contamination but as mayor I can’t see everything coming in advance.”
But Ajax’s players celebrated with the trophy from a balcony sparking wild celebrations while some supporters even tried to scale a steep wall to get closer to their heroes.
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Ajax beat FC Emmen 4-0 to wrap up the Eredivisie crown for the 35th timeCredit: Getty
Some daredevil fans even tried to climb the steep wall up to the balcony with the playersCredit: EPA
Thousands headed for the Duomo di Milano in the centre of townCredit: AP
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