Roma’s Tammy Abraham has revealed the role that Jose Mourinho played in making him join the club and how he sees the Portuguese as a father figure.
Abraham has impressed for the Giallorossi, since he joined from Chelsea in the summer. The Englishman spoke to UEFA.com in a recent interview and he talked about Mourinho’s role in convincing him to play for the Roman club.
He said: “The first words he said to me were: “Would you rather stay in rainy England or come to the sun in Rome?” We both laughed but he then said, “No, seriously.” I’ve always looked at him as a father figure, and he told me that he believes it’s the best place for me right now; to come and make a mark on Italian football, get your name around the world – not just in England. For me, that was enough.”
He further spoke about how Mourinho understands him and his ability to drive the team into being better.
“He knows when my mind is in the game and when I’m a little bit asleep. He really knows how to drive the team. He knows how to inspire the team to make them hungry, to want more. He’s a breath of fresh air around the place. When we need to wake up, he’s there to drive us. When we’re playing well, he tells us but he still wants more. For a coach, from a player, you can’t ask for anymore.”
Abraham also spoke about how his life in Rome has been so far, with the striker claiming that he will be fluent in Italian in a couple of months.
“I love it! It’s a life experience that you’ll never forget and when I had the option to come here, it was a dream come true: I wanted to experience something new. Of course, I grew up in England [and have been there] my whole life, so it’s nice to come and try something new, learn about a different culture. I’m enjoying life in Rome, seeing the history of the city and enjoying the food. I’m loving every minute.
“I’ve gone to see the Colosseum – I heard so many stories about it as a kid. Now I’m living here, I’ve been a couple of times and I drive past it every day. The language is going well, too. When I first came, I didn’t understand a word. But I’m settling in well, taking lessons every day and I’m learning. I’m getting there. Hopefully, in a couple of months, I’ll be fluent.”
