Trouble For Mikel Arteta As Arsenal Star Gets Ready To Join Mourinho At Roma

Trouble For Mikel Arteta As Arsenal Star Gets Ready To Join Mourinho At Roma

Babajide Orevba, Oluwatomiwa Babalola
updated at April 12, 2023 at 7:47 PM

- Jose Mourinho is looking to strengthen his squad at Roma following his appointment as manager

- The Portuguese is reported to have identified Granit Xhaka as his first possible summer signing for the Italian side

- Xhaka, who has endured a tumultuous spell at Emirates has two years left on his current deal with Arsenal

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Arsenal star Granit Xhaka has thrown his future at the Emirates Stadium in doubt after considering a move to join Jose Mourinho at Roma.

The former Tottenham manager was said to have made the 29-year-old Swiss midfielder one of his top signings this summer.

However, Jose would now be faced with the Gunners board who might be unwilling to cut ties with the player whose deal expires in 2023.

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Sources claim the Portuguese-born manager is looking to revamp his squad as he prepares to challenge for the Serie A title next season.

Trouble For Mikel Arteta As Arsenal Star Opens Door To Joining Mourinho At Roma
Xhaka joined the Gunners from Borussia Monchengladbach in 2016 for a fee of around £34m. Photo: Getty Images.
Source: UGC

The 58-year-old was hired to replace Paulo Fonseca shortly after he was axed at Tottenham Hotspur.

UK Metro noted Mourinho had set his sights on adding Xhaka within his ranks having inherited a squad that failed to compete favourably in the domestic league.

The Arsenal star has now broken his silence on the rumours, conceding it gives him a sense of pride that a football coach of Mourinho's stature would be interested in his services. He told Blick.

Xhaka's reaction

"Of course I read the rumours too. But now I’m one hundred percent focused on the national team. That’s more important than Arsenal or rumours right now. Honestly: I didn’t hear what Mourinho said. But that makes you proud. Everyone knows Mourinho, knows what he has achieved. Mourinho knows how to win titles. You can now see what work I have done over the past few years."

Xhaka, who joined the Gunners from Borussia Monchengladbach in 2016 for a fee of around £34m has had a tumultuous spell at the Emirates.

The Swiss star was thought to be keen on leaving the north London side at the start of Mikel Arteta's spell but was absorbed back into the squad having been frozen out following a bust-up he had with fans.

Roma, meanwhile, are said to have had a bid of around £11m rejected by Arsenal, with the EPL side valuing the midfielder close to £20m. The Switzerland international has two years left on his current deal with the Arteta-tutored club.

Legit.ng earlier reported that Dani Ceballos has taken to his official social media page to send an emotional farewell message to Arsenal fans thanking them for the supports.

The 24-year-old has been at the Emirates stadium for the past two seasons with Arsenal and has failed to win any title with the North London giants.

Arsenal finished the just-concluded Premier League season with a trophy and also failed to qualify for Champions League or Europa League.

Authors
Babajide Orevba photo
Babajide Orevba
Babajide Orevba is a CAF accredited Nigerian journalist and HOD of the Local Desk with over 10 years of experience in media landscape.He studied NCE Political Science/Social Studies, AOCOED.
Oluwatomiwa Babalola photo
Oluwatomiwa Babalola
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