Roma Primavera player Mattia Mannini was given the chance to make his senior debut for Mourinho’s team last night versus Sheriff Tiraspol.
The 17-year-old came on a few minutes before the final whistle, just enough to witness first hand the goal scored by Primavera teammate Niccolo Pisilli.
After the 3-0 victory, Mannini spoke to Roma TV about the unforgettable night.
“These are things you’ve dreamed of since you were a child, it was truly a unique emotion. To be able to make this happen at the Olimpico is even more special.”
“Roma is a club that relies a lot on younger players, thanks to Mourinho and his staff. I want this evening to be just the beginning of a long story with this club.”
“I want to thank the coach, the club and all the staff. All the people who have followed me from the beginning, I want to thank my family even though they’re not living close by. They believed in it almost more than me and luckily it happened.”