Wijnaldum asked for Salah’s advice before joining Roma

Georginio Wijnaldum

has admitted that

Mohamed Salah

was one of the star players who advised him to make a move to

.

Wijnaldum departed

to join

last year and he went to Giallorossi for a loan spell last week.

The player contributed to the Champions League and Premier League success during his five-year spell at Anfield; however, because of a frustrating 2021-22 season, he had little impact on the campaign.

Although he appeared in 38 matches for PSG last season, all the other midfielders played more than him fort the French side.

After making a move to Roma on a loan deal, the Netherlands international revealed that former Roma winger Salah as well as Kevin Strootman and PSG wing-back Achraf Hakimi advised him to join the Serie A side.

"First of all, I wanted to come because of the effort the club put in to sign me as a player,"

Wijnaldum told a news conference on Tuesday. 

"Also, I spoke with Mo Salah and Kevin Strootman about Roma, about the club and the city, and I only heard good stories about it. 

"I even spoke with Achraf Hakimi about it, even though he played at Inter Milan, he said [Roma] was a beautiful club and a beautiful place and I would be happy here. So that convinced me a lot.

"I know the club, we played them twice when I was at Liverpool [in the Champions League in 2018], and the atmosphere at the Olimpico was amazing – so I knew that I would be playing for a club with a great atmosphere and beautiful supporters.

"But that was basically the only thing I knew, so I asked for some advice from Mo and Strootman and they had good stories." 

Jose Mourinho also had an influence on the player opting for Roma.

"When I arrived, we spoke more about football things. I think his record as a manager speaks for itself," the midfielder said of the former Chelsea and Real Madrid boss.

"The things he did in football, the prizes he won and the clubs he managed, it's unbelievable. 

"I think every player wants to work with him and I am the same. From the moment I spoke to him, I told myself I really wanted to join the club – but that was the case even before.

"I think the thing that convinced me the most was the amount of effort the club, through Mr [director of football, Tiago] Pinto and the manager, put in to sign me. At that moment I felt really wanted and appreciated by the club and that helped me make the decision."

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