Roma’s winger Nicola Zalewski has shared his thoughts on his career and recent experiences in an interview with Polish portal Goal while on international duty. The young player offered insights into his development, summer transfer saga, and relationship with former coach José Mourinho.
Zalewski expressed gratitude for the coaches who have shaped his career: “If I’m here with Poland, it’s also because I’ve always had coaches like Mourinho, De Rossi, Juric who believed in me, it’s a great help.” However, he also noted the constraints of Italian football, stating, “In Italian football, a lot of importance is given to tactics, so I don’t actually have much freedom in my game.”
Addressing his tumultuous summer, when he was on the verge of leaving Roma, Zalewski revealed, “In the summer I was very close to Galatasaray and then to PSV. I analyzed everything and made the decision that seemed best to me, to stay in Roma. I feel like a Roma supporter, I never thought about whether it was better to leave Roma at that moment or at the end of the contract. I’m young, the most important thing for me is to play and I wanted to do it at Roma.”
The 22-year-old also commented on being excluded from the squad after rejecting a move to Galatasaray: “I was surprised by the club’s reaction, but fortunately it’s water under the bridge.” Regarding the whistles from fans at the Olimpico, he added, “It’s certainly not pleasant to be whistled at by fans of the club I love, but if the team’s results are poor it’s difficult to expect fans to be satisfied.”
Zalewski spoke warmly about his relationship with José Mourinho: “He was really supportive of me. He was very important for my career. He allowed me to play in the first team, but I could count on him not just for football: he was very close to me when my father died. Whenever I have the opportunity, I will gladly thank him. I wish all coaches had his personality.”
