Newcastle United are reportedly interested in signing Roma midfielder Lorenzo Pellegrini in what would be a blockbuster summer signing for the Magpies.
Pellegrini is an Italian international who enjoyed an excellent season with Roma this year, helping them to lift the inaugural Europa Conference League title. He scored nine goals in Serie A this season, and would add a goal scoring eye to Newcastle United's midfield.
ChronicleLive takes a look at what two Roma legends past and present have had to say about Pellegrini and just what he could bring to Tyneside.
Jose Mourinho
While he has only spent one season in the Italian capital, Jose Mourinho has already guided Roma to European silverware.
Roma won the inaugural Europa Conference League with a 1-0 final win over Feyenoord. Prior to his arrival, the Giallorossi had not tasted European success since their Inter-Cities Fairs Cup win back in 1961, a competition Newcastle won in 1969.
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Pellegrini played a pivotal part in helping Roma secure the Conference League title, with the Italian midfielder winning the tournaments best player award.
"He can do everything," Mourinho said. "If we had three Pellegrini's, they would all be starting the game at the same time. They would never stay all three in the bench.
"He is multifunctional, he can adapt to different roles. The other day when we were 10 he played on the internal part of the right flank and created the chance for Tammy [Abraham] to hit the crossbar. He is smart, can understand the game and my ideas. If there were three of him, they would all play."
Francesco Totti
Francesco Totti and Lorenzo Pellegrini both share a number of similarities. They were born in Rome, they both play in an attacking midfield role and both have been captains of Roma.
The responsibility of captain is something Roma take very seriously. And Totti believes Pellegrini is a true leader.
“I’ve always said it, and I can hardly go wrong when talking about football, that as a figure he [Pellegrini] is a person who has charisma, who has positivity, who has Roman spirit, who has everything a captain must have," said Totti in the build up to the Europa Conference League final.
“I think Roma should be happy that after myself and after Daniele another captain of this caliber has arrived.”
