Rick Karsdorp has undergone a remarkable transformation at Roma only months after Jose Mourinho claimed an “unprofessional” player had “betrayed” the Serie A club.
Mourinho pulled no punches towards an unnamed Roma player, believed to be Karsdorp, after his side dropped points in a 1-1 draw with Sassuolo last November.
“It was a team that wanted to win against a tough opponent, I am sorry that the efforts of the team were betrayed by the attitude of one unprofessional player,” he said at the time.
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“An unprofessional attitude that is not fair to his teammates, that is what disappoints me.
“A point away from home is still not a negative result and I am happy with the general attitude of my squad.”
Mourinho added: “I won’t tell you. I had 16 players on the field tonight and I liked the attitude of 15 of them. In January, he needs to find himself another club.”
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Following Mourinho’s ruthless callout of the unnamed Roma player, reports emerged that Karsdorp had left the city after the ‘Special One’ left him out of his squad.
And footage also emerged of Karsdorp’s lack of intensity in his Roma performance against Sassuolo, which fans believed ‘proved’ that he was the player Mourinho was referencing.
Roma manager Mourinho was slammed at the time for his “shameful” behaviour towards Karsdorp, who was heavily linked with a move to Juventus in the January window.
According to reports last month, Mourinho surprisingly admitted that he would welcome the Roma defender back into his plans if he apologised.
The former Manchester United and Chelsea manager has since claimed that there were no issues between him and Karsdorp as the player was welcomed back into the fold.
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“As for how things are between us, there has been no problem since December,” Mourinho said in February.
“The problem arose against Sassuolo because of the player’s attitude on the bench and when he came on, which I didn’t like. Then I went a bit overboard with my choice of words.
“After that period, the media thought it was over between us but it wasn’t. We’ve always had a good relationship […].
“Lots of people stuck their oar in without knowing the facts -- and I’m not referring to you journalists.”
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Since his initial outcast status under Mourinho, Karsdorp has re-established himself as an integral part of the Roma squad and impressed on Thursday night.
Roma sealed a 2-0 win over Real Sociedad in the first leg of their last-16 Europa League tie, with Karsdorp starring for Mourinho’s side at the Stadio Olimpico.
Karsdorp, who has made 16 appearances for Roma this season, has received the ultimate compliment from Roma fans on social media.
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Roma supporters have compared the 28-year-old Dutch right-back to Brazil legend Cafu, who won a Serie A title with the Italian club in 2001.
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And fans are equally impressed with how Karsdorp has reintegrated himself under Mourinho, with the Roma star tipped to play an important role in the remainder of his side’s Europa League campaign.
“Impressive shift from Karsdorp [against Sociedad], too. I thought he was done at Roma,” one fan wrote.
Someone else tweeted: “Karsdorp was strong. I hope he gets [the] credit.”
A third asked: “How did Karsdorp and Mourinho settle their differences?”
While another Twitter user posted: “Just seeing Karsdorp do so well and play at Roma must be killing [former Roma player] [Nicolo] Zaniolo!”
And a fifth added: “Now this is all Mourinho asks for. Even if you’re not talented, give your 100 per cent for him. Look at Karsdorp tonight. Ran his socks off for his manager.”
One fan said: “Karsdorp… Cafu… what’s the difference?”
Featured Image Credit: Twitter/AlamyTopics: Jose Mourinho, AS Roma, Serie A, Football, Italy