AS Roma manager Jose Mourinho left his fans wondering if sprinter Lamont Marcell Jacobs would have made a great footballer in another life after jokingly showing off the signing of the Olympic 100 metres champion on Monday.
While the Special One’s approach to fantasy football may seem unorthodox, Mourinho has no doubts Jacobs would be a perfect fit at Roma. Not only would the Italian be the fastest man in Serie A, but also the most versatile.
“Super fast, dominant, technically perfect. Can play as a defender or striker...” Mourinho said in a post on social media next to a picture with the 27-year-old athlete one day after Roma’s 5-0 friendly win over Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk. Roma superfan Jacobs, who was gifted the No. 12 shirt during his visit to the capital club, was ready to leave athletics behind to be Roma’s next big signing in the close season after Argentina forward Paulo Dybala joined the club in July.
“(I play) where do you want mister,” he replied to the Portuguese coach in a comment and shared the post on his own profile asking Roma when he would start. Mourinho, meanwhile, is reportedly eyeing up Victor Lindelof again. Former Manchester United manager Mourinho signed the defender from Benfica for the Red Devils in 2017.
Now the Special One wants to work with the Sweden skipper in Serie A, according to Forza Roma. The 28-year-old was a high-profile omission from United’s matchday squad for Sunday’s defeat to Brighton. Captain Harry Maguire got the nod alongside new signing Lisandro Martinez in central defence. And with Raphael Varane starting on the bench, it remains to be seen if the Swede has a place in new boss Erik ten Hag’s plans.
Italian media have also been linking Roma with United defender Eric Bailly. The Ivory Coast star was another to miss out on a squad place in the shock 2-1 home defeat to the Seagulls. Roma have earlier signed Paris Saint-Germain’s Netherlands midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum on loan with an option to buy at the end of the season.
The former Liverpool midfielder leaves French champions PSG having scored three goals in 38 appearances after joining on a three-year deal in 2021. “It’s a really good feeling to be a Roma player,” Wijnaldum said in a statement.
“Everyone I have spoken to has given me great feedback about the club and its fans. “The club made it clear just how much they wanted me in the efforts they made to complete the deal, which always gives a player a lot of confidence and belief.”
Wijnaldum follows Dybala, Nemanja Matic, Zeki Celik and Mile Svilar in joining Roma in the close season. Roma finished sixth in Serie A last season and won the Europa Conference League under Mourinho. They kick off the new campaign with a trip to Salernitana on August 14.
