Switzerland midfielder Granit Xhaka looks all set to join AS Roma in the near future after agreeing a deal with the Giallorossi, but somehow former goalkeeper Fernando Orsi is not at all convinced about the Arsenal man’s abilities.
Orsi is befuddled why his old club are so keen to sign Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka as football.london understands that the Switzerland international has agreed on a five-year contract with the Italian club as he looks forward to teaming up with Jose Mourinho.
Apparently Mourinho, who was sacked by Arsenal’s rivals, Tottenham, in April, has been in regular contact with the Swiss midfielder in the past few weeks over a move to Rome, and Xhaka now looks set to terminate his five-year association with Arsenal in the near future to join Roma, but former Roma goalkeeper Orsi is not convinced over what the Swiss star will bring to the Stadio Olimpico.
Orsi said on an Italian radio station: “[Granit] Xhaka is a box-to-box midfielder, but he does not have great dynamism.
“The player does not completely convince me, he is not exciting.
“He is physical, he does not solve the problems of the team, but in a team he is good.”
Despite a career marked by distinct highs and lows at Arsenal, Xhaka has been a regular under all the three managers he’s played for – Arsene Wenger, Unai Emery and Mikel Arteta, which in itself should augur well on the midfielder’s behalf.
The 28-year-old will be hoping to become a regular in the Roma first XI under his soon-to-be manager Mourinho, and judging from past comments made by the Portuguese coach, it looks pretty certain the midfielder could be n integral part of his future plans.
Speaking in 2019, Mourinho said: “Xhaka is the main man in the entire Arsenal midfield, you can’t see it unless I lend you one of my eyes.
“Without him, Arsenal is lost. He is a leader. Remember, mistakes are made by humans.”
From the ‘Chosen One’, that is no less an oracle that says a lot.