Pellegrini was ‘upset’ by Mourinho vicious message to Roma after sacking | OneFootball

Lorenzo Pellegrini admits he has ‘not met’ Jose Mourinho since the coach was sacked by Roma and reportedly left a vicious message in his locker. ‘I cannot deny it, I was upset.’

The pair had a fractious rapport in the last few months of Mou’s tenure, which culminated in the Special One getting sacked in mid-January to make way for Daniele De Rossi.

It was probably no coincidence that the captain’s form picked up markedly after that, returning to the player who had originally become a fan favourite.

There were reports that when Mourinho was sacked, he left a photograph in Pellegrini’s locker of them celebrating the Conference League triumph in Tirana, along with the ring that the team had given him for his 60th birthday.

There was also said to be a message reading: ‘When you become men, you can give it back to me.’

Pellegrini seemingly confirms Mourinho message to Roma

“I wasn’t going to say anything because what happens in the locker room should stay there,” Pellegrini told Il Messaggero newspaper.

“Seeing as unfortunately some things did leak out, I just want to say I always had a marvellous rapport with Jose. He was told some things about me that were absolutely not true.

“The way I read it, during a moment of profound bitterness created by being sacked, he believed these rumours.”

So did he really give back the ring that had been a gift?

“I cannot deny it, I was upset by his reaction. After all the emotions we shared together, I would’ve preferred he say things to my face. So I did the only thing I could do considering he had already left the training ground: I called him up and we chatted for a long time, I realised what he was going through.

“I don’t want to get into the specifics of what was said, but we cleared the air, that is what matters. Mourinho remains a coach I will always be grateful to.”

Have they met in person since that moment?

“No, we haven’t had the chance. There are no problems between us, though, we cleared the air. What we needed to say was said.”