Tammy Abraham claims the lure of a big project at Roma is similar to what Newcastle United can offer potential targets. In an exclusive interview with Alan Shearer for The Athletic, the former Chelsea striker discussed reinventing himself in Italy after a stop-and-start career at Stamford Bridge.
Jose Mourinho stumped up £34million to sign the 24-year-old last summer, with Abraham bagging 24 goals in all competitions to justify the hefty price tag. Conversely, his replacement, Romelu Lukaku, has surprisingly struggled to hit the heights despite being regarded as one of the best strikers in world football.
Abraham namechecked Newcastle to club legend Shearer while revealing working under Mourinho was what attracted him to Roma. He told The Athletic: “It was about seeing a vision and… how can I put it? It’s just like what Newcastle are doing - building again. I could see where Mourinho wanted me to be and he believed in me. This was the best place for me. Thank God I’ve done it.”
The Magpies’ all-time leading goalscorer then told an anecdote about a time he was in Rome weighing up a potential move from Blackburn. It was at this moment Shearer knew his destiny was to sign for Newcastle.
“When I was leaving Blackburn, I also had a few options and Italy was one of them,” he wrote. “Firm interest from Sampdoria and Roma were sniffing, too. So I flew to Rome with my agent, all very hush-hush, and in between meetings he suggested we pay a visit to the Trevi Fountain. I was keeping my head down for obvious reasons but, ‘What’s the harm?’ I thought. ‘Nobody will recognise me.’
“And wouldn’t you know it… a coach pulls up, rammed with Geordie tourists. ‘Hoy man, Shearer! What are ye deein’ here?’ Honestly, you couldn’t make it up. Even in the Eternal City, I was being pointed home.”
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