Jose Mourinho is in talks for a sensational move for Paris Saint-Germain star Marco Verratti despite previously rejecting the Italian during his time at Manchester United.
The Portuguese tactician is currently in the midst of a successful stint with Italian giants Roma. He led the club to the Europa Conference League crown during his first season, whilst the side also managed to reach the Europa League final this term - only to be defeated by habitual winners Sevilla.
Ahead of his third full season in the Italian capital, Mourinho is attempting to add considerably to the talent at his disposal. Roma have already secured the services of Lyon star Houssem Aouar on a free transfer.
Eintracht Frankfurt defender Evan N’Dicka is expected to follow him once his contract with the Bundesliga side comes to an end. They were also interested in signing Youri Tielemans from Leicester, only for the Belgian to move to Midlands rivals Aston Villa instead.
Roma’s spending doesn’t look like it’s set to end there. According to various reports in Italy, they are interested in signing PSG star Marco Verratti, with Mourinho himself trying to push through a deal. As per Corriere della Sera, he called the Italian midfielder personally in an effort to convince him to move to the Stadio Olimpico.
Should he green-light a move, then it would represent the 30-year-old’s first return to Italy since he quit Pescara for PSG back in 2012. Since then, he has gone on to represent the French side on 416 occasions, winning 30 domestic honours - nine of which being the Ligue 1 crown.
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His agent Rafaela Pimenta has already suggested that a move back to his homeland is on the agenda. She said: “Sooner or later an Italian thinks of going home. He [Verratti] always wants to return. I can’t say that this is not the case for him.”
At this stage, it is suggested that Roma would find it difficult to match the huge wages that Verratti earns in Paris. He also has three years left to run on his contract.
A loan deal with an option to buy appears the most likely method of sealing a move. Interestingly, Mourinho’s pursuit of the midfielder is not the first time the pair have been associated.
According to the Manchester Evening News, Manchester United’s former executive vice chairman Ed Woodward recommended that the Red Devils sign Verratti and Raphael Varane in the 2018 summer transfer window. Mourinho believed that the pair were out of reach for United so vetoed moves.
Instead, the Red Devils splashed £52m on Fred from Shakhtar Donetsk 12 months later, whilst Varane eventually did become a United player.
They paid Real Madrid £34m for the Frenchman two years ago and he has gone on to become a key part of the side’s defence - a role he still holds under Erik ten Hag.
