New Roma signing Matias Soulé admits that Thiago Motta wanted to keep him at Juventus but the club chose to sell him. Speaking in an interview with Corriere dello Sport, the 21-year-old Argentine playmaker shared his emotions and thoughts about the move and his hopes for the new season:
Emotional Decision
“I wanted to come so much that I had tears at the thought it might not happen. I will prove on the field that I am worth the money the club spent on me. Being here is wonderful. The negotiation was long, and I was anxious about not being able to come, but everything worked out. The Friedkins wanted me strongly; I immediately understood their ambition for this club and where they want to take it. Now I’m here, in training with my new team, and I couldn’t ask for more. We’re working hard and with great intensity: we’ll be ready for the first league match against Cagliari.”
Admiration for De Rossi
“I have great admiration for him. He pushes a lot, is a great worker, and an excellent coach. I talked to him several times during the negotiation, and I must say he doesn’t only speak Spanish; he also has a great Argentine accent. He told me about Roma, how football is lived here, and during this training camp, he has been exceptional. He is instilling a winning mentality in the team and providing us with physical and tactical preparation that will be crucial for the season.”
Relationship with Dybala
“For me, he is an older brother, a guide not only in football but in life. When I was younger, I saw him as a sacred monster, a player I couldn’t approach because I was in awe. Then we started to get to know each other, we clicked, and we developed a good relationship at Juventus. There’s an anecdote I’ll never forget. It was Paulo’s last year at Juve, and he was playing one of the final matches of the season. Fifteen minutes were left when I saw him talking from a distance with Landucci while pointing at me. Unfortunately, the substitutions were over, but Dybala had asked the bench to let me in because he wanted to play with me at least once before leaving Juve. It’s a memory that will always stay with me because it made me realize how much he cared about me and his esteem for me. When Paulo left Juve, I sent him the message, ‘I hope with all my heart to play with you one day.’ Fate’s jokes, three years later, here we are together.”
Transfer Market Experience
“I was on vacation in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, when my agent informed me that Roma was interested. After a couple of days, that inquiry turned into a real transfer request, and on the same day, I received a message from De Rossi telling me he was waiting for me at Trigoria. That’s when the spark ignited. They wanted me so much that it was impossible to say no. The coach’s calls, then the Friedkins got involved personally, and the management made me understand how much they wanted to focus on me. Their desire to have me pushed me to consider only this opportunity, even though I had others in the Premier League.”
Interest from England
“Leicester wanted me a lot; both the coach and the sporting director called me to convince me of their project. But then I felt the affection of De Rossi, Roma, and the teammates who contacted me, and I decided from that moment to say no to all other clubs and think only about Roma for all these reasons plus one.”
Impressions of the Olimpico
“The fans are spectacular, and it’s not just a saying. Last season, Paulo and Leo invited me to the Olimpico to watch the Europa League match against Feyenoord. I entered and heard 70,000 people singing from the anthem to the end of the game. Once I left, I told my brother I had never seen such passionate fans. An incredible emotion, giving me chills. Honestly, I had already thought about Roma there, even when I didn’t know if I would continue at Juventus.”
Departure from Juventus
“A somewhat painful topic, especially for the first months of 2024. Because I didn’t think I would leave Juve, on the contrary, I was focused on playing well with Frosinone to earn a spot. But then in January, I learned they were selling me to an Arab club, but I had no intention of going there, even though it was clear what my future would be. I was disappointed because I thought I could play for Juve, but then I accepted it.”
Thiago Motta’s Influence
“He is a wonderful person. He has always been close to me, supported me, coached me, and given me lots of advice. Then he joked a lot with me: ‘You won’t leave here unless you leave 70 million.’ The truth is that Thiago wanted me to stay at Juve; he saw me fitting perfectly into his plans and attack. But by then, Juve’s decision had been made: I was needed to raise funds, and I accepted it, and at that point, I couldn’t wait to leave. I have no regrets about my experience at Juve, where I was very happy, just that unexpected farewell in January.”
Looking Forward to the Stadium
“I can’t wait. Not for revenge, heaven forbid, but to show that I could have done well at Juve. I’ll be pleased to see Thiago again, who jokingly told me, ‘I’ll put Gatti on you so he can mark you.’ Now black and white is the past; the Giallorossi are the present and my future, a point of arrival for me. Oh, naturally, I want to win that match for Roma, for which I also suffered. There were a couple of days when I feared it might fall through, and I had tears in my eyes. De Rossi called me to reassure me and convince me. ‘Coach, you convinced me from the first message,’ I told him jokingly. In the end, everything went well, thanks to the significant investment by the ownership to bring me to the capital.”
€30 Million Price Tag
“It’s an incentive to prove I’m worth that money. Pressure in football is normal; without it, we can’t have motivation or improve. I’ll prove those thirty million invested by the Friedkins on the field.”
Impressions of Le Fée
“I didn’t know him; he’s really strong. He surprised everyone on the team; he can play all midfield roles with the same quality. It will be fun to play with him.”
Thoughts on Dovbyk
“He’s a giant, really strong, and can be an added value for this Roma. He’s a great acquisition, like everyone who has arrived. We are a great group led by Pellegrini.”
