José Mourinho surprised Roma debutant Francesco D’Alessio during a post-match interview on Thursday revealing how the 19-year-old had convinced him to let young supporters in at Trigoria during a training session this summer.
D’Alessio, a versatile midfielder playing for Roma Primavera, made his senior debut with the Giallorossi on Thursday, coming off the bench in a 4-0 Europa League win over Servette.
Mourinho was speaking at a post-match interview when he saw the 19-year-old walking close by in the mixed zone. He then grabbed the promising Roma player and said: “First of all, let me tell you a story.
“In the summer, before the kids went back to school, we were training and there were loads of kids outside Trigoria screaming because they wanted to come inside to watch training.
“He was with us and he said, when I was seven, eight, nine, I was out there screaming because I wanted to come in. No coach opened the gates to let me in.
“I was very happy for the kids because I opened the gate and let them in. Now, he is playing for Roma, in the Europa League, at the Stadio Olimpico in front of 50 or 60,000 people with his family here.
“I don’t want to say anymore, he can talk. Well done!”
Don’t worry in ten years Roma will train in Saudi and NO Italian kids will be able to watch them train