Former Juventus player Paulo Dybala has stated that he decided to join Roma minutes after speaking with manager Jose Mourinho on the phone.
The Argentine left Juventus in the summer after his contract at the Allianz Stadium expired after seven years.
A number of prominent clubs in Europe were interested in signing the attacker, but former Chelsea and Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho was able to secure his signature.
Dybala has shown to be a good addition for Mourinho this season, scoring four goals and assisting two more in all competitions.
After struggling to find his best in his last few seasons, the 28-year-old confessed that he is enjoying his game again since moving to the capital.
Dybala told ESPN Argentina: “Yes, the last few years at Juventus weren’t easy, a change did me good. Mourinho called me and in a few minutes I decided. He as well as the director spoke to me about the project and the desire to continue winning as they did last year.
“Being a protagonist in such a team helps me a lot. The fans’ welcome? It was unusual. When you enter the stadium you’re with your teammates, there I was alone. It had never happened to me before.
“Roma fans are similar to Argentinian fans in terms of passion. Different from the Juventus environment, more like the Argentinean one.
“They have a beautiful madness, I feel this affection, for them Roma comes before the family. They live football as we do.”
But it was not the first time Dybala had spoken to Mourinho. The Argentine crossed paths with the Portuguese manager during a match between Juventus and Roma in his last season with the Old Lady, in which Mourinho approached Dybala on the bench after he was substituted.
He said: “In Rome with Juventus we were winning 4-3 and the coach took me off. Mourinho came up to the bench to greet me and said: “You are a phenomenon”.
“This episode has stayed in my head, but I couldn’t know then what would happen with the renewal at Juventus.
“When he called me the first time, he asked me if I remembered that moment. I said: ‘Of course, how could I forget. It was an honour”. Then he said: ‘Well, now you have to do it for me”. He also called me in the following days and it was easy to decide.
“Working with him is easy. With him I talk about everything, he knows all the players, from the elite to the third string. He has a group of people who work very well. What surprised me about Mourinho is the humility he has, he treats everyone the same.
“Sometimes he can give a different image for what you see on the pitch. Then I also saw him angry…. I’m very happy at Roma, when you’re happy it’s easier.”
