Wolverhampton Wanderers star Rui Patricio has been linked with a shock move to AS Roma following the announcement that Jose Mourinho will become their new manager.
The Special One will officially take charge of the Serie A outfit ahead of the 2021/22 season, after getting the sack from Tottenham Hotspur last month.
Little time has been wasted by the media in linking players who have worked with Mourinho in the past to Roma.
Gazzetta dello Sport have claimed Patricio might be someone he’ll be interested in.
He’s actually never worked with Mourinho before, but the pair do share an agent (Jorge Mendes) which may explain this particular link.
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He may not have managed Patricio before, but Mourinho has commented on the goalkeeper previously.
Back in 2014 when he was in his second stint with Chelsea, Mourinho oversaw a Champions League game against Sporting CP – the club Wolves signed Patricio from nearly three years ago now.
Chelsea ran out 1-0 winners in Lisbon that night, but Patricio produced an inspired display between the sticks, prompting Mourinho to say after the game (Daily Mail): “I’m not going to repeat the words (I said to him) because they’d be censored.
“It was something to do with spoiling the evening, spoiling the night.
“There were great saves from Patricio. Games like this can end up 4-0 or 5-0, but it ended up 1-0 and a well-managed goal.”
Roma move unlikely for Patricio
Mourinho may still be a fan of his fellow countryman, but a move does not seem all that likely.
Patricio is still a top goalkeeper despite a slight dip this season, and it’s difficult to see Wolves entertaining interest.
There’s a good chance he’ll be kept until his contract expires in the summer of 2022.