Mourinho: Belotti wants Roma; I'd like Zaniolo to stay

Jose Mourinho

said he would welcome

from Italy to Roma with open arms. He also said he wants to keep Nicolo Zaniolo at the Stadio Olimpico.

Since Belotti's contract with Torino ended at the end of June and became a free agent, there has been a lot of talk about him going to

. He scored eight goals in Serie A last season.

The 2021-22 season was the first time since 2014-15 that Belotti didn't score ten or more goals in the top Italian league. There have been rumors that he could join Roma to compete with

Tammy Abraham

and

forwards.

Before Monday's game against Cremonese, Mourinho was asked if Roma would be getting another attacker. "I don't answer because I know Tiago Pinto, the director, already knows.

"All I can do is wait and hope it can be done. If it can't be done, we'll keep doing what we're doing. I wouldn't answer if Belotti played for Torino or another team. Now that I'm free, I don't have a moral reason not to say anything so that I can say something.

"If it's true, and I'll say again, that he wants to come to Roma, I'd be happy to hear that. I don't know what will happen if he doesn't come. Let's wait and see."

Belotti could join Dybala, Georginio Wijnaldum, and Nemanja Matic at Roma, but Zaniolo, another forward, has been rumored to be leaving the club for most of the transfer window. Zaniolo scored the goal when Roma won the Europa League in May, ending a 14-year trophy drought. He has been linked to Juventus, though.

The 23-year-old is a crucial player in Mourinho's eyes. "He is doing a great job. He seems to be in good shape physically. "Whether or not he stays here is up to the director, not me. If you ask me if I want him to stay, I don't try to hide the fact that I do. He means a lot to us."

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