Spalletti: De Rossi avoided ‘trap’ at Roma after replacing Mourinho

Italy coach Luciano Spalletti feels Daniele De Rossi avoided a ‘trap’ at Roma after replacing José Mourinho.

De Rossi played at Roma as a footballer under Spalletti and the Italy coach is delighted to see the former midfielder’s impact at the Stadio Olimpico.

“I think I know him really well, and I think that Daniele’s biggest merit at Roma comes from the fact that he didn’t want to take advantage of the immense love that fans feel for him,” Spalletti said in his latest interview with Il Corriere dello Sport.

“He understood it could have been a trap, so he put that aside to invest in the work on the pitch. He knows that ideas can lead to a joyful stadium only through weekly training sessions. I don’t know if Daniele has something of me, but sometimes he reminds me of Mazzone. When he gets made, he has an attitude that belongs to the great Carletto.”

Read every word Spalletti said about Roma, Napoli and Serie A here and why he invited four Italy legends to Coverciano here.