Roma reject chance to sign Jack Rodwell as ex-England star fails to impress on trial
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ROMA have snubbed Jack Rodwell after the clubless midfielder did not do enough during his trial, according to reports.
The three-cap England international, 28, left Blackburn at the end of the season and was spotted training with the Rome outfit last week.
But claims injury-hit Roma have turned down the chance to sign him despite needing reinforcements.
Gianluca Mancini - a defender by trade - was used as an emergency midfielder against AC Milan and Sunday and appears to have impressed boss Paulo Fonseca.
Amadou Diawara, Lorenzo Pellegrini and Bryan Cristante are among seven Roma players in the treatment room - leaving them with threadbare options in the middle of the park.
Rodwell was touted as a future star when he burst on to the scene with Everton and earned a £12million move to Manchester City in 2012.
But he played just 25 games in two injury-hit seasons with the Citizens and ended up joining struggling Sunderland.
The Black Cats tried to offload Rodwell, and his bumper wages, to ease their financial woes after relegation to the Championship in 2017.
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But they failed and the ace was criticised by fans after his decision featured on the Netflix documentary Sunderland 'Til I Die.
Rodwell eventually had his contract terminated in June and played 22 times - scoring once - after moving to Blackburn on a free two months later.
Roma's interest was a positive sign that the ex-whizkid could get his career back on track but if the Italians do look elsewhere, he will be forced to shop himself out again.