The Roma defender discussed rejecting Inter, working under Gian Piero Gasperini, the arrival of Rodrigo Mora and the club’s ambitions in an interview with Sky Sport.
Gianluca Mancini has reaffirmed his commitment to Roma, explaining that his emotional connection with the club made it impossible for him to consider leaving.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Sky Sport, the defender also discussed Roma’s return to the Champions League, preseason under Gian Piero Gasperini and the club’s desire to improve upon last season.
On playing in the Champions League for the first time
“Yes, we had been chasing it for several years. We qualified last season, and we cannot wait to participate in this wonderful competition.”
On preparing for the season under Gasperini
“I think every preseason is difficult because you are returning from a period of vacation, and when you start again in the heat, the first sessions are always a little challenging, wherever you are.
“What the coach and his staff do is put us in the right condition to approach the season in the best possible way. As a group, we follow everything he tells us to do to the letter.
“There are training sessions and there is the heat, but it is all part of football. We are now already in the week of the opening league match, and none of us can wait to begin.”
On rejecting interest from Inter
“You cannot control the heart. I have a special relationship with this club. I have felt Roma inside me since the first day I arrived, and that feeling has grown stronger over the years.
“I really wanted to stay with the coach and my teammates so that I could continue playing an important role during this new season and keep doing things in the best possible way.
“We players deserve that, as do the city, the supporters and the club. When you are part of a family, it is difficult to leave.”
On Roma’s ambitions for the season
“I do not like making predictions about the table. In everyone’s eyes, because of what they have demonstrated over the years, Inter begin as the favourites once again.
“There will be many teams prepared to give everything to compete in a difficult league, and we are among them. Our objective, however, is to think one match at a time and approach everything as a team.
“We have to experience the good moments and ride that wave. There will also be difficult periods, during which you cannot allow yourself to become discouraged.
“The idea is to keep improving, both in training and during matches. We do not want to settle for what we achieved last season. We want to do even better and try to accomplish more.”
On helping Roma’s new signings
“As the days pass, yes. The players who have been here for longer gradually begin speaking with the new arrivals, and sometimes your position on the pitch has a big influence.
“As soon as Kostas arrived, we immediately started speaking about tactical situations, the environment, finding a home and even private life.
“Mora arrived this morning and completed his first training session today. There will be time to speak with him as well—not only about football, but also to get to know each other away from the pitch so that we can perform better together on it.”
On José Mourinho’s praise for Rodrigo Mora
“What I can tell you is that we played against Porto two years ago. He played in that match and made an excellent impression.
“Mourinho knows Rome and the Roma supporters. If he said that, it is because he believes it to be true.
“We are happy whenever new players arrive to strengthen the squad and become part of this group, which is a family—an exceptional group that works extremely hard.”
On the Friedkin family’s ambitions
“We sense the same motivation that we have always felt from them since they arrived. Their dream is to see a strong and competitive Roma side playing at the highest level, and they have always demonstrated that.
“As players, we focus more on what happens on the pitch and on the technical and tactical aspects. We try to give everything for the shirt and the badge we wear and to produce results every time we step onto the pitch.
“The owners, together with the coach and sporting director, handle the transfer and management aspects that we players do not see.
“When talented players with the right character arrive and give us something more within the squad, it obviously makes us happy.”
On Italy and the disappointment of missing the World Cup
“The disappointment of missing the World Cup is still there. Clearly, as time passes, you have to look forward.
“I was not part of the squad that won the European Championship under Mancini, but I was almost always involved with the group.
“Now we have to look ahead, focus on the matches and take Italy back to where it deserves to be.
“A lot has been said. It would be better to talk less and achieve certain objectives.
“I have not spoken with the coach, but I am sure that he, the federation president and Ranieri will do something important to take Italy back to where it deserves to be.”
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