Andrea Belotti underlined his happiness at his Roma contract extension and reflected on his first season under Jose Mourinho.
The 29-year-old Italian forward joined the Giallorossi on a free transfer last summer, signing a one-year deal with an option for a further two years. This was activated recently, tying him to the club until June 2025.
Belotti had a quiet season in his debut year at Roma, scoring just four goals in 46 appearances across all competitions, with none of them coming in Serie A. With Tammy Abraham out with a long-term injury, the Italian will likely feature more prominently next season.
Speaking to Roma’s media department via Di Marzio, Belotti first discussed how it felt to have his contract extended with Roma.
“For me it is a great emotion, from the first moment I set foot inside Trigoria I understood the importance of this team, these people, this city. I live this extension as a stage of a journey that began a year ago.
“I thank Tiago Pinto for giving me the opportunity to play for Roma. The staff and the coach for putting me in a position to do it in the best possible way and for believing in me, but also my teammates who immediately made me feel part of a family.”
He reflected on his first season under Mourinho.
“The coach’s gesture was one of the gestures that filled my heart the most, because he understood the effort I had made to help the team. That hug at the Olimpico when I was substituted during the match against Inter is one of the things that I will carry inside me forever.”
The Italian forward spoke more about the qualities of the Portuguese coach.
“The coach is a winner. He makes you understand the importance of a victory and teaches you to always want to win, match after match. And then he has a great gift, he has a strong empathy with the guys.
“When you think you’re giving 100% he’s able to get 130% out of you, he’s able to push you beyond your limits, and not by only a little.”
The Roma striker revealed an amusing anecdote during the early stages of his time in the Italian capital.
“At the end of August last year, it was the day of the signing. I was staying in a hotel. I booked a restaurant to celebrate the officiality of my arrival at Roma and called a taxi. The taxi arrived, there were three of us. I sat in the back.
“The taxi driver looked in the rear-view mirror, recognised me and said to the person sitting in the front, you get in the back and the Giallorossi gets in the front.
“I went along with him, we set off and began to talk about systems, about footballers past and present, about what it feels like to be on the pitch and every now and then the speeches are interspersed with a ‘nun ce credo… c’ho il Gallo in the car!’
“When we arrived at our destination, we took a photo, he hugged me and said: ‘I have to tell you something… I have a lot of respect for you, but I’m a Lazio fan… and I love you anyway.”
Finally, Belotti sent a message to the Roma fans.
“I’d like to thank them for all the support they’ve given us and which I’m sure they’ll always give for this shirt. All we can do is take to the pitch with the sole aim of giving them satisfaction, doing our utmost to bring home trophies or joys that will remain etched within us.”