‘Difficult’: Coach comments on reported £5m Newcastle target’s future

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Sassuolo coach Roberto de Zerbi has warned Newcastle United that they face a tough task trying to convince the Serie A outfit to sell Rogerio, while speaking to Sport Italia (25 August).

With the Magpies once again in the market for a left-back, thanks in part to the most unfortunate of injuries suffered by Jetro Willems, they appear to have renewed their interest in a long-standing transfer target.

Calciomercato reported in July that buccaneering Brazilian Rogerio, who joined Sassuolo in a £5 million deal from Juventus, is back on the radar.

But if Newcastle are to finally get their mitts on a 22-year-old they have been tracking since January 2019, they will have to strike a deal with Sassuolo’s infamously difficult sporting director Giovanni Carnevali.

Rather them than us.

“Rogerio? It is difficult to sign Sassuolo players because Carnevali is difficult to please,” de Zerbi, a coach who’s adventurous, high-octane style has earned him the admiration of Pep Guardiola, says in quotes translated by CalcioNews24.

Just to back up de Zerbi’s point, Carnevali himself admitted last month that Sassuolo were determined to keep their star players at the Mapei Stadium for at least one more year.

Newcastle’s 18-month wait for Rogerio’s signature might not be coming to an end after all.