Former Primavera attacker Nicola Zalewski has been regularly training with the first team since early preseason under the watchful eye of Jose Mourinho.
The young Polish international was recently interviewed by Corriere dello Sport and shared his thoughts on life at Trigoria, The Special One’s qualities and more.
On Mourinho launching Zalewski, Felix, Missori and Bove:
“It should be normal to give a good player an opportunity even if he is young. Mourinho does it.”
“From the first time he talked to me, he talked to us, saying that if we deserved we would have our space and emphasizing our attitudes on and off the pitch and pushing our motivations: treating us as players, not as young players. And maybe this makes a difference, it helps you grow.”
“I play where the coach asks me to play. I am a left winger, left midfielder, trequartista… I adapt: ​​it is Mourinho told me he was ready to change my position. If I have to say my preferred role then it’s high up on the left wing.”
“I can say that Mourinho encourages you, motivates you, always asks you for something more.”
On Pellegrini:
“I have a very good relationship with Lorenzo. But he has it with everyone, because he is an exceptional person as well as a great captain.”
“The attitude he has is always the same, even when he is not playing: in the locker room you can hear it and he always uses the right words. He embodies the role of captain.”
On his future at the club:
“I dreamed of wearing this shirt in the first team as a child. Then I know that it always takes two to tango. Roma will have to want for me to stay, too.”
