‘Xhaka has asked me about Italy’ – Freuler drops exit hint for Roma-bound Arsenal midfielder

Robin Bairner

Updated: 14 Jun 2021 23:26 BST
3 min read

© ProShots - Granit Xhaka: I am proud Roma boss Jose Mourinho wants to sign me from Arsenal

Granit Xhaka has been sounding out his Switzerland international team-mates about life in Italy ahead of an expected switch from Arsenal to Roma.

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Xhaka is expected to depart the Gunners after five years at the club, with Jose Mourinho’s new side at the forefront of the queue.

His departure has been something of an open secret for a couple of weeks now, but Atalanta midfielder Remo Freuler has effectively confirmed Xhaka’s interest in a move to Serie A.

“Earlier he asked me how the roads in Italy are,” Freuler told Il Corriere dello Sport of Xhaka ahead of the Swiss side’s clash with Italy in Euro 2020.

Xhaka proud of Mourinho interest

Previously, Xhaka had admitted that he is proud to have caught the eye of incoming Roma boss Jose Mourinho.

“To be honest, I didn’t hear what Mourinho has said about me. But that makes you proud. Everyone knows Mourinho, knows what he has achieved. Mourinho knows how to win titles,” he told Blick.

Everyone knows Mourinho, knows what he has achieved.

- Granit Xhaka

“You can now see what work I have done over the past few years.”

It is expected that Roma will pay in the region of €20 million to sign Xhaka from Arsenal, who spent around twice that to sign him from Borussia Monchengladbach on the eve of Euro 2016. However, it is reported that there is some late wrangling over the price that is holding the deal up, with the Italian side seeking to purchase the player at a cheaper price.

Meanwhile, it is anticipated that Xhaka will be paid around €2.5m per season over the duration of a four-year deal with the Stadio Olimpico side.

Arsenal already have their eyes on a replacement for the 28-year-old, with Ruben Neves of Wolves is the man anointed as his successor.