RomaPress Live – Trigoria: Roma sporting director Monchi unveiled attacker Gregoire Defrel today. Here are their words.
Monchi begins: “Good morning to all. I am very pleased and satisfied for (having brought) Defrel and for the effort and will he has shown to come to Roma. He concentrated a lot on coming to Roma and I wish him the best because he deserves it.”
(To Defrel) How important was Di Francesco for your growth?
Very important, he taught me so much and changed my role, making me a striker. He helped me on an attacker’s movements. During these two years at Sassuolo, I saw so many improvements.
(To Monchi) How important was Di Francesco in bringing Defrel?
My way of working since I became a sporting director is the same. There is no excessive or pressing demand from the manager, you choose a profile that you decide on together, and then you work on it. We needed a player who can play both as striker and winger, there were several options, but we agreed on him. Why complicate your life if you agree?
(To Monchi) Are you optimistic about Mahrez? Cuadrado is an alternative?
I am optimistic by nature, I face life this way. It is true that Roma is doing their best to try and buy the player. If memory does not deceive me, I believe that the last offer, which is public, was the most expensive in the history of Roma. We are trying to do as much as possible. But to date, there have been no positive breakthroughs as we hoped, we are waiting. But at the same time, we are working on something else, the club’s effort is close to their limit, we believe it’s an important offer. We are looking for alternatives and when we agree to a deal with Leicester or another club, we won’t regret anything because we tried our very best to try and purchase the player.
(To Defrel) Could you have arrived in January to Roma?
Yes, my agent told me that there was interest from Roma. I would have liked to come here in January. I decided, with Sassuolo, to stay there, but I was calm. I was hoping there would still be a chance again in the next transfer market window. In my heart and in my head, there was only Roma, there were other offers, but I said yes to Roma.
