Carles Perez will not be moving to Newcastle United because the Roma winger is part of Jose Mourinho’s plans at the Stadio Olimpico, as reported by Corriere dello Sport.
Giallorrosi director Tiago Pinto will barely have a spare minute to himself between now and the end of August.
With just two weeks remaining in the transfer window, Pinto has been handed the almost impossible task of finding a club willing to take a host of high-earning, seldom-seen players off Roma’s books.
Steven N’Zonzi, Javier Pastore, Alessandro Florenzi, Ante Coric and former Everton goalkeeper Robin Olsen, to name a few, are all up for sale as Mourinho looks to sear the fat from a flabby squad.
Much to the frustration of Pinto and Mourinho, however, finding someone willing to pay up for well-paid veterans like Nzonzi and Pastore is proving to be easier said than done.
Newcastle United came calling last week but for the exciting, fleet-footed Perez, rather than a member of the so-called Stadio Olimpico ‘bomb squad’.
Why is Carles Perez not joining Newcastle United?
According to reports, Newcastle were hoping to sign Perez on loan with a £12 million option-to-buy clause included in the deal.
But after Mourinho made it clear that the former Barcelona youngster has a part to play in the Italian capital, Pinto called off negotiations.
Perez started just six Serie A matches during his debut season at Roma, scoring twice. But it is fair to say he is intrigued by the prospect of sharing a dressing room with a man who led Inter Milan to an unprecedented treble during his previous spell in Italy.
“Mourinho has instilled in us this mentality to win every game,” Perez said a few weeks ago, via Italy24.
“I’m happy here, I’m happy with the team and the coach. I want to stay here.”
Perez, who joined Roma in an £11 million deal, has been compared to Arjen Robben due to his tendency to cut inside from the right and wreak havoc with that trusty left boot.
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