Will Mourinho let Tammy Abraham join Arsenal?
Carlo Garganese
- Updated: 10 May 2022 14:06 BST
- 4 min read
Arsenal have been given hope in their pursuit of Tammy Abraham after Roma manager Jose Mourinho admitted that he wouldn’t stand in the striker’s way if he wanted to return to England.
Abraham completed a €40 million transfer last summer to Jose Mourinho's side - with another €5m in bonuses - after finding himself surplus to requirements at Chelsea.
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He has enjoyed an excellent first season at the Stadio Olimpico, already scoring 25 goals in all competitions.
This has included some key goals in big matches, including the Rome derby and the winner last week versus Leicester to put Roma in the final of the UEFA Europa Conference League.
Abraham’s form has led to interest from a number of Premier League clubs who are keen to bring him back to England, particularly Manchester United and Arsenal.
Arsenal are keen to sign two forwards this summer as Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah are set to join Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in departing.
Gabriel Jesus is in advanced talks from Manchester City, but Arsenal also have their eyes on Abraham.
And they have been given hope by Mourinho of successfully signing Abraham, who supported Arsenal as a child.
What did Mourinho say?
"I don't think it's an easy decision for a young player to leave his club, his house, his city, his country and to leave the Premier League which is of course a competition that when a player is in its hard to leave,” Mourinho said to Sky Sports of his move to Roma from Chelsea.
"He took that option and I think he took it because he trusted me. And I think in this moment, if he wants to go back to England – I don't think he wants to, no – but if he wants to go back to England he just needs to click his fingers and I'm so happy for him.
Jose Mourinho thinks Tammy Abraham could take his pick 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/VPlSwOMsoI
— ESPN UK (@ESPNUK) May 10, 2022
"He's back in the national team and is loved in Rome. I don't say proven everybody wrong, because I think everyone knows he's a good player and I think also, with Smalling, Tomori and Tammy, showing the English boys that there is life outside the Premier League and in Italy there's a life that makes them even better players."
Abraham is certainly happy at Roma and he has embraced the whole culture of the club and the city brilliantly, already becoming a firm fan favourite.
The Englishman also enjoys a fantastic relationship with Mourinho, seeing him as a father figure. This was most recently demonstrated when he was substituted in the 2-0 defeat to Fiorentina on Monday when Abraham kissed the hand of Mourinho as he came off.
It is likely that Abraham will look to stay at Roma for at least one more year to see if Mourinho can turn the club into a Scudetto challenger.
Mourinho was always clear with Abraham that the first year would be a transitional one for the club under American owners - the Friedkins – and this has proved to be the case as Roma are fighting it out for a Europa League place with two matches to go.
Next year will be the acid test for Abraham to see if Roma can satisfy his ambitions long-term.
But in the short-term, qualifying for Europe could play an important role. If Roma were to win the Conference League final against Feyenoord they will qualify for next season’s Europa League.
If they lose, they will have to ensure they finish fifth, sixth or seventh to return to Europe. If they miss out altogether, it may make any Arsenal offer look more enticing to Abraham.
