ABRA-CADABRA
Jose Mourinho gives green light for Tammy Abraham to return to England whenever he wants amid Arsenal transfer interest
JOSE MOURINHO says Tammy Abraham just has to “click his fingers” and he can return to the Premier League from Roma.
The England striker, 24, has enjoyed a record breaking first season in Italy since he left boyhood club Chelsea for the Italian capital last summer.
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Abraham, who cost £34m, scored his ninth goal in the Uefa Conference League last week to down Leicester City in the semi-final to reach the final.
That was his 25th in all competitions - making him the first Englishman to reach that figure this term in Europe's top five leagues.
That came just weeks after he cemented his status as a legend amongst Roma supporters when he struck twice in the 3-0 derby win over rivals Lazio.
That brace meant he surpassed both Gabriel Batistuta and Vicenzo Montella’s previous records for the most goals scored in a debut season for Roma, who each registered 21.
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Abraham’s form, which led to an international recall from Gareth Southgate back in October, has led to speculation that he could return to the Premier League next term.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is believed to be one of those keen on launching a big-money move to sign him once the current campaign is over.
And his boss Mourinho has now admitted he would not stand in the forward’s way if he wants to leave.
But he seems confident that his talisman will remain as he praised him, team-mate Chris Smalling and AC Milan’s Fikayo Tomori for showing English players that they have nothing to fear by heading to Italy.
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Mourinho told : “Against Leicester he was absolutely amazing and at this moment I joke and say 'I refuse to praise him' because he can always do better.
“He knows how happy I am. He knows how much I love the kid and the player and I'm proud of what we are doing and I'm so happy for Tammy.
“We have got into this situation where I demand a lot from him because I know he can do amazingly well.”
He continued: “I don't think it's an easy decision for a young player to leave his club, his house, his city, his country and to leave the Premier League which is of course a competition that when a player is in its hard to leave.
“He took that option and I think he took it because he trusted me. And I think in this moment, if he wants to go back to England - I don't think he wants to no - but if he wants to go back to England he just needs to click his fingers and I'm so happy for him.
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“He's back in the national team and is loved in Rome.
"I don't say proven everybody wrong, because I think everyone knows he's a good player and I think also, with Smalling, Tomori and Tammy, showing the English boys that there is life outside the Premier League and in Italy there's a life that makes them even better players.”
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