Tiago Pinto gives a hint of how he convinced Paulo Dybala, his Davide Frattesi regrets and why Nicolò Zaniolo was ‘never close’ to leaving, but insists Roma are not Scudetto contenders.
The Giallorossi sit joint top of the table on 10 points after four rounds alongside Atalanta, having completely revamped the squad at remarkably little cost, including free agents Paulo Dybala, Nemanja Matic and Andrea Belotti.
Initially greeted with scepticism when he arrived, Tiago Pinto is now a highly-respected director of sport among the fans.
It might seem fun from the outside, but these were three really tiring months,” he said in his press conference.
“The squad has been improved, I don’t think there’s much doubt on that, but I don’t agree with those who say we have an instant team. Roma are the fourth youngest squad in Serie A, Jose Mourinho has transformed regular players into great ones and we expect even more this season than the last, but that doesn’t mean we are going to talk about the Scudetto as a target.”
Much of the summer was also spent theorising Zaniolo was on the verge of an exit towards Juventus or Tottenham Hotspur, but he stood firm and is expected to sign a new contract.
“He was never close to leaving. As we said before, this is a season of recovery for him, he is very happy, helped the team and there was never a problem. Now I’ve started organising with his agent that we’ll plan our meetings so as not to fan the flames of press speculation.”
Roma are still working to balance the books after the Friedkin family took over the club and Tiago Pinto, unlike many other directors and coaches, is not openly critical of UEFA’s Financial Fair Play system.
“It was created to help clubs, not damage them. The Friedkin project includes financial sustainability and we will try to improve the squad with every transfer window, but it’s a fact that they inherited a very difficult situation and it will take time. Hopefully, the next director of sport at Roma will have an easier job than I did.”
The Portuguese transfer chief was certainly kept busy and gave a few clues as to how he convinced all those free agents.
“I am a director, but also a human being, so when I close myself in a hotel room in Turin for three or four days to get Dybala, that’s not an easy thing to do.”
The window might not be over for Roma, because Mourinho asked for a new centre-back and free agent Dan-Axel Zagadou is an option, as well as Bodo/Glimt winger Ola Solbakken, whose contract expires in January.
“We can talk about Zagadou or Jason Denayer. I thought Solbakken had already signed for another team, but if he hasn’t, then we can try again.”
The one that got away for Roma was Sassuolo starlet Frattesi, a product of the Giallorossi youth academy, as they were unable to agree on the €30m asking price.
“Frattesi is my favourite player in Serie A, excluding those at Roma. He will be one of the best midfielders in Italy. Sassuolo made their price, we could not reach it, and that’s all there is. I won’t be there talking for a month if it’s a €2-3m gap, with all due respect to the media, but if we don’t have the money then we have to move on.”
if they really want to think that they they can, no one believes them – he will move away next summer
As InterFanatic says, yes they are. Mourinho, Abraham and Dybala are up for bet. 😛