Former Juventus midfielder Sami Khedira revealed new Roma coach Jose Mourinho was ‘the best thing that happened to me’.
The former Germany international has retired from football and spoke to Marca about the different periods of his career.
The 34-year-old moved to Hertha Berlin in February 2021 but has decided to leave football after the 2020-21 season.
Khedira won the 2014 World Cup with Germany, right after the success in the Champions League with Real Madrid the same year.
Khedira moved to Juventus in 2015 and picked up five Scudetti before leaving Italy earlier this year.
“It’s not a decision taken overnight, I left what I love the most and I have to slowly adapt,” Khedira told Marca. “My body was no longer prepared to continue playing at the highest level and quitting turned out to be the best choice.
“If I can’t give my all, it’s best to step aside. At this moment the sensations are strange. On one hand you are sad, of course, because you will no longer play, but on the other you look at what you have achieved and feel a lot of happiness and pride. I had a fantastic career.”
Khedira spoke about Roma bound Mourinho, who will start preparing for the new season on July 6 with the Giallorossi.
“Spain had just eliminated us from the World Cup in South Africa and we were all very sad,” he continued. “That generation deserved a Final.
“Suddenly, I received a call: ‘Sami, Real want you and Mourinho will call you’.
“I thought it was a joke. I was very nervous and my main concern was my English, because I didn’t speak it at the time. So, Mourinho called me and I asked him if we could talk by text messages. He laughed and said it was fine.
“He told me he wanted me at Real and that conversation changed my career. Mourinho is the best thing that has happened to me.”