Edin Dzeko looks fondly back on Roma spell: “The Olimpico is my home.” | OneFootball

Former Roma striker Edin Dzeko looked back on his years in the Italian capital and discussed the current situation at the Giallorossi club.

In an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, Dzeko spoke ahead of Roma-Inter.

“I remember playing the first game back at the Olimpico since my move to Inter. We won 3-0 and I scored. Maybe it wasn’t visible from the outside, but I had fire inside, I felt the fans of both teams on my side. I was returning to my stadium, the Olimpico was my stadium, my home: a very strong emotion, never felt before.”

“I definitely felt that at Roma it would be more difficult to win than I felt at Inter…” he added.

“Dovbyk? I know better than anyone how complicated Serie A is. Last year he was top scorer in Spain, he had a bit of difficulty at the beginning, but he did the same as me, he didn’t give up and now everything is easier for him. I’m happy for him.”

“I was also criticized at the start. Luckily, I never stopped to think. And I didn’t give up. I could have, you know? I could have left after my first year in Italy, it would have been the easiest choice, others in my place would have done it.”

“But I wanted to show people that he wasn’t Edin, that guy. I said to myself ‘I’m staying, I don’t want to end my experience in Italy like this, I’m better than what you saw.”

“Mourinho? To tell the truth, I also had him at Roma for a month, before going to Inter. He wasn’t happy about my departure and he made me ‘feel’ it. There were things that didn’t depend on him, nor on me, at the time.”

“José is a great man and a great coach with incredible charisma. Even as an opponent, when he spoke, I was there to listen to him. His word has enormous value. And I am very proud to be coached by him here at Fenerbahce.”

“De Rossi? Ah, Daniele… talking about him is easy, but not at this moment, it’s difficult. For me he is above all a friend. I was very surprised by his dismissal. I didn’t have De Rossi as a coach, but I spoke with my former teammates in Rome, I heard wonderful things about him, they told me about a great coach. And if you say these things after only two months of work, it means that he has the talent. He will return to work soon.”