Henrikh Mkhitaryan explains the ‘ugly’ situation at Roma when Edin Dzeko clashed with coach Paulo Fonseca, but assures the Bosnian is ‘our captain even without the armband.’
It seems as if Lorenzo Pellegrini will be the captain this season under Jose Mourinho, after Dzeko was stripped of the role in January following a row with Fonseca.
“It was an ugly situation for all of us and nobody wanted a split like that to develop,” Mkhitaryan told the Corriere dello Sport.
“The positive thing is that we continued working and playing together for the team. We found an agreement and reached the end of the season, with Edin giving us a hand, the way he always does.
“Dzeko is our captain, even without the armband, for his experience, charisma and the way everyone loves him. The armband doesn’t matter.”
Eldor Shomurodov is on his way from Genoa in a deal worth circa €20m, but Mkhitaryan has faith in Dzeko to continue leading the way for Roma this season.
“At the age of 35, he is still our hitman.”