Jose Mourinho has already started to wield the axe at Roma, reportedly telling eight members of his first-team squad that they don’t have a future at the Stadio Olimpico and will be sold this summer.
Mourinho, who took his first training session with his new club on Thursday, has wasted little time in stamping his authority on his new squad after taking his first role since being sacked by Tottenham earlier this year.
According to Sky Sports in Italy; the eight players who will no longer train with the first team include former Chelsea winger Pedro, Justin Kluivert, Steven Nzonzi and goalkeeper Robin Olsen.
Ante Coric, Davide Santon and Federico Fazio have also reportedly been cast aside by their new manager.
Roma have been linked with a host of players this summer including Wolves stopper Rui Patricio and Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka as they look to improve upon last season’s seventh-place finish in Serie A.
However, speaking at his first press conference as Roma boss, Mourinho insisted he is yet to open discussions with any players regarding joining the club.
‘I have not spoken to anyone. You can choose to believe whether that is true or not, but I have not spoken to anyone,’ the ex-Tottenham manager confirmed.
‘I speak with Tiago (Roma’s general manager), I speak with the ownership, I speak with different people within the club… but as far as players go, I have not spoken with any of them.’
Mourinho signed a three-year contract to succeed former Roma boss Paulo Fonseca in May.
ourinho also made headlines in his first press conference as he interrupted the unveiling to tear down a window panel that was flapping behind him.
Those in attendance were left baffled when he got up from his desk in the media room to deal with a distraction.
A thin panel had been taped over a window to keep the light out from the room but it began blowing around, with Mourinho noticing it in the corner of his eye.
A reporter had just started asking him a question, saying: ‘Here in Italy, we are known for speaking about football all day long, seven days a week. There are five radio stations in Rome who spend all day talking about the club…’
Mourinho then held his hand up and said ‘one moment please’ and he charged over to the offending window and grabbed hold of the black panel.
He then ripped it down – with the help of a member of the production crew – before returning to his seat and saying ‘sorry about that’. The same reporter then says he will ‘pick up where I left off’ after the media room was left somewhat puzzled by the bizzare episode.
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