Sassuolo midfielder Davide Frattesi has opened up on his dream move to Serie A giants Roma amid interest from Premier League trio Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United and Brighton, speaking to Corriere dello Sport.
The four-time Italy international represented his hometown club at youth level without ever making a senior appearance in that, erm, red kit? Or is it a shade of maroon? Burnt orange maybe?
Either way, while the colour if Roma’s iconic home shirt is up for debate, what cannot be disputed is Frattesi’s passion for a club now under the stewardship of Jose Mourinho.
A club who tried to sign Frattesi over the summer, and could offer the 23-year-old another opportunity to re-trace his steps during the January transfer window. One Frattesi, if given the opportunity, would snatch with both hands.
Tottenham, West Ham and Brighton like Davide Frattesi but he’s dreaming of Roma
“When Roma decided to sell me to Sassuolo (in 2017), I was disappointed. I hoped to spend my entire career there,” Frattesi recalls.
“(Last summer), I was convinced that (my return to the Stadio Olimpico) was done. I understand (why Sassuolo refused to sell me). They could not dismantle the team and had already collected a lot of money from Gianluca Scamacca and Giacomo Raspadori.
“When my agent Giuseppe Riso was discussing the contract with (Roma director) Tiago Pinto, I gave him a bump with my elbow to make him understand that I didn’t give a damn about a euro more or less. I just wanted to play for Roma.
“Do I still dream of going to Rome? Of course! And, sooner or later, I feel like I’ll make it.”
Talk about unfinished business.
According to Gazzetta dello Sport, Tottenham are keen on the £26 million dynamo; a forward-thinking, goal-scoring midfielder who revels in making well-timed runs into the penalty area. West Ham are also keen, having snapped up Frattesi’s former Sassuolo team-mate Gianluca Scamacca (FC Inter News). A reunion with Roberto de Zerbi at Brigthon is a possibility too.
Given the choice, however, Frattesi would jump at the chance to shake hands with Jose Mourinho in the Italian capital instead.
‘I have a preference for Roma’
“Roma is everything to me,” Frattesi adds. “Scoring at the Olimpico with that jersey, in front of all the people who love me, would complete my journey. It would be like saying: ‘now I’ve made it.’
“Other clubs? I have received plenty of offers, but I have expressed a preference for Roma.”
Tottenham are prioritising an attacking midfielder in January. Antonio Conte and Fabio Paratici are both huge fans of Atalanta’s Ruslan Malinovskyi.
The Ukraine international should cost around £25 million.
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