Roma director Thiago Pinto admits that Rick Karsdorp is up for sale as Fulham enter talks about bringing the Dutch international to the Premier League during the January transfer window, speaking to Gazzetta dello Sport.
In an interview with The Guardian last week, acclaimed director Sam Mendes had one name in mind when asked who from the real world would make an ideal ‘Bond Villain’.
“Jose Mourinho. You can’t get better than that can you?”.
And former Feyenoord right-back Karsdorp has discovered the hard way just how brutal, how ruthless Mourinho can be when backed into a corner, falling out of favour after a high-profile and rather unseemly breakdown in relations between manager and coach.
The ‘Spectre’ of a January departure now hangs over Karsdorp; Fulham in talks regarding a potential winter move to Craven Cottage (La Repubblica).
Fulham want Rick Karsdorp from Jose Mourinho Serie A giants AS Roma
“Our coach was straightforward. But, after games, the emotional part emerges,” Pinto said when quizzed about the public falling out between Mourinho and Karsdorp. “There are many examples, also among the top clubs in the Premier League. These things happen in football.
“Many have forgotten about the best version of Karsdorp, who has started 60 games in 18 months under Mourinho.”
While Roma are looking to cash in on Karsdorp, do not make the mistake of assuming the 27-year-old will be sold for a knock-down fee. The 2022 Conference League winners want at least £7 million. A fee that Fulham, at this stage, have been unwilling to match.
“He is on the market, but he will never leave for free,” Pinto adds. “If he goes, we must find a way to keep the team balanced. But not necessarily by signing a new full-back.
“With (Zeki) Celik, (Nicola) Zalewski, (Matias) Vina, (Leonardo) Spinazzola and (Stephan) El Shaarawy, the wings are covered anyway.”
Karsdorp would provide further competition for the excellent Kenny Tete on the right-hand side should he join Marco Silva’s high-flying Fuham. The Cottagers’ interest, meanwhile, raises questions about the future of Kevin Mbabu.
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