The agent of reported Southampton target Ruben Providence believes a move away from Serie A giants Roma would be for the best this month, speaking to Tuttomercatoweb.
You may remember in 2016, Jose Mourinho handed out a list containing 55 players he claimed to have given a debut to during his trophy-laden managerial career.
With Jose, however, things are never quite as simple as they seem.
A closer look at that list revealed 16 of the chosen 55 had not, in fact, made their senior bows under the former Chelsea, Manchester United and Real Madrid boss.
Kurt Zouma, for one, had accumulated half a century of Ligue 1 appearances at St Etienne, while Arjen Robben was an established Eredivisie star at PSV Eindhoven before moving to Stamford Bridge as a hirsute 20-year-old.
Mourinho may have done his level best to change the narrative but even the master of propaganda can’t airbrush his failings from history. When it comes to promoting youth, the newly appointed Roma boss is no Ralph Hasenhuttl.
So 20-year-old Ruben Providence has a difficult decision to make as Mourinho prepares to get himself comfortable in the Roma hot seat.
Especially with Fussball Transfers reporting Southampton are offering the former Paris Saint-Germain youngster a chance to smooth out those rough edges under Hasenhuttl – a serial developer of talent – in the Premier League.
Providence could prosper at Southampton
“There are two or three options, mostly abroad. Ruben is very popular with foreign clubs,” says Providence’s agent, Fabrizio Ferrari.
“At the moment, the most important thing is his career. He trained with the first team from January onwards but he was very unfortunate because he got injured in his first training session.
“With Mourinho, he will have few opportunities. It is necessary to find an alternative solution.”
Direct, tricky and blessed with an eye for goal, Providence looks the perfect fit for a Southampton side that prides itself on a sign-low, sell-high transfer policy that has served them well over the years.
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