After failed Roma switch, Jose Mourinho takes to Instagram to provide Granit Xhaka with Covid advice
AS Roma manager Jose Mourinho has turned heads online this evening, after taking to the comments section of an Instagram post on the part of Arsenal star Granit Xhaka.
Roma links
Widespread speculation of course surrounded the name of Swiss international Xhaka throughout the summer window.
Mikel Arteta was known to have been on the lookout for reinforcements to his ranks in the middle of the park ahead of the new season, with a dynamic partner for Thomas Partey being eyed.
This saw Xhaka, on the back of another somewhat hit-and-miss campaign in North London, made available for transfer by those in a position of power at the Emirates.
Arsenal’s Swiss midfielder Granit Xhaka (R) has this shot saved during the English FA Cup third round football match between Arsenal and Newcastle United at the Emirates Stadium in London on January 9, 2021. (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)
In turn, Serie A outfit AS Roma were quickly named as a potential landing spot for the 28-year-old.
The Giallorossi are of course prepping for a new era over the seasons to come, following the high-profile installment of Jose Mourinho on the bench at the Stadio Olimpico.
And Mou, according to widespread sources, identified Xhaka as the ideal addition to his midfield ranks in the Italian capital.
Some outlets even went as far as to suggest that a deal being struck between Arsenal and Roma was imminent back in July:
Arsenal and Roma are in the final details of finally agreeing a fee for Xhaka. Both teams have taken steps towards each other and Deal is imminent. That would be €15m +€2.5m in add ons https://t.co/kPRQyKdRJ8
— Osman 🎗 (@OsmanZtheGooner) July 15, 2021
‘Be safe’
In the end, however, Xhaka of course stayed put, before putting pen to paper on a new long-term contract at the Emirates.
This outcome, though, has not swayed Mourinho against keeping the channel of communication very much open between he and the Arsenal midfielder.
After Xhaka returned a positive test for Covid-19 earlier this week, it was subsequently revealed that the Swiss had turned down the opportunity to be vaccinated against the virus.
And Mou, in turn, this evening weighed in, taking to the comments section of the Gunners star’s most recent Instagram post, to provide some advice:
‘Get the jab Granit and be safe’, wrote the Roma boss.
Make of that what you will…
Jose Mourinho comments on Granit Xhaka’s latest Instagram post encouraging the Arsenal midfielder to get vaccinated against COVID-19. #AFC pic.twitter.com/pGy5C4X2ig
— Chris Wheatley (@ChrisWheatley_) September 3, 2021
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Premier League table
| # | Team | MP | D | P |
| 1 | Tottenham Hotspur | 3 | 3 | 9 |
| 2 | West Ham United | 3 | 5 | 7 |
| 3 | Manchester United | 3 | 5 | 7 |
| 4 | Chelsea FC | 3 | 5 | 7 |
| 5 | Liverpool FC | 3 | 5 | 7 |
| 6 | Everton FC | 3 | 4 | 7 |
| 7 | Manchester City | 3 | 9 | 6 |
| 8 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 3 | 1 | 6 |
| 9 | Leicester City | 3 | -1 | 6 |
| 10 | Brentford FC | 3 | 2 | 5 |
| 11 | Aston Villa | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| 12 | Watford FC | 3 | -2 | 3 |
| 13 | Southampton FC | 3 | -2 | 2 |
| 14 | Crystal Palace | 3 | -3 | 2 |
| 15 | Leeds United | 3 | -4 | 2 |
| 16 | Burnley FC | 3 | -3 | 1 |
| 17 | Newcastle United | 3 | -4 | 1 |
| 18 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 3 | -3 | 0 |
| 19 | Norwich City | 3 | -9 | 0 |
| 20 | Arsenal FC | 3 | -9 | 0 |
| Player | Team | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| Antonio, Michail | West Ham United | 4 |
| Fernandes, Bruno | Manchester United | 3 |
| Calvert-Lewin, Dominic | Everton FC | 3 |
| Greenwood, Mason | Manchester United | 3 |
| Salah, Mohamed | Liverpool FC | 2 |
| Benrahma, Said | West Ham United | 2 |
| Ings, Danny | Aston Villa | 2 |
| Vardy, Jamie | Leicester City | 2 |
| Fornals, Pablo | West Ham United | 2 |
| Torres, Ferran | Manchester City | 2 |
| Son, Heung Min | Tottenham Hotspur | 2 |
| Wilson, Callum | Newcastle United | 2 |
| Maupay, Neal | Brighton & Hove Albion | 2 |
| Gray, Demarai | Everton FC | 2 |
| Jota, Diogo | Liverpool FC | 2 |
| Gallagher, Conor | Crystal Palace | 2 |
| Jesus, Gabriel | Manchester City | 1 |
| James, Reece | Chelsea FC | 1 |
| Doucoure, Abdoulaye | Everton FC | 1 |
| Mahrez, Riyad | Manchester City | 1 |
| Player | Team | Red Cards | Yellow Cards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pogba, Paul | Manchester United | 0 | 2 |
| Fernandes, Bruno | Manchester United | 0 | 2 |
| Doucoure, Abdoulaye | Everton FC | 0 | 2 |
| Richarlison | Everton FC | 0 | 2 |
| Cooper, Liam | Leeds United | 0 | 2 |
| Norgaard, Christian | Brentford FC | 0 | 2 |
| Schar, Fabian | Newcastle United | 0 | 2 |
| Kane, Harry | Tottenham Hotspur | 0 | 2 |
| Etebo, Oghenekaro | Watford FC | 0 | 2 |
| Skipp, Oliver | Tottenham Hotspur | 0 | 2 |
| Djenepo, Moussa | Southampton FC | 0 | 2 |
| Cantwell, Todd | Norwich City | 0 | 2 |
| Ings, Danny | Aston Villa | 0 | 1 |
| Vardy, Jamie | Leicester City | 0 | 1 |
| James, Reece | Chelsea FC | 1 | 0 |
| Wilson, Callum | Newcastle United | 0 | 1 |
| Grealish, Jack | Manchester City | 0 | 1 |
| Bamford, Patrick | Leeds United | 0 | 1 |
| Pereira, Ricardo | Leicester City | 0 | 1 |
| Maupay, Neal | Brighton & Hove Albion | 0 | 1 |
| Player | Team | Assists |
|---|---|---|
| Pogba, Paul | Manchester United | 5 |
| Antonio, Michail | West Ham United | 3 |
| Jesus, Gabriel | Manchester City | 3 |
| Salah, Mohamed | Liverpool FC | 2 |
| Benrahma, Said | West Ham United | 2 |
| James, Reece | Chelsea FC | 2 |
| Gross, Pascal | Brighton & Hove Albion | 2 |
| Pereira, Ricardo | Leicester City | 2 |
| Ings, Danny | Aston Villa | 1 |
| Vardy, Jamie | Leicester City | 1 |
| Fornals, Pablo | West Ham United | 1 |
| Torres, Ferran | Manchester City | 1 |
| Doucoure, Abdoulaye | Everton FC | 1 |
| Mahrez, Riyad | Manchester City | 1 |
| Grealish, Jack | Manchester City | 1 |
| Bamford, Patrick | Leeds United | 1 |
| Saint-Maximin, Allan | Newcastle United | 1 |
| Murphy, Jacob | Newcastle United | 1 |
| Richarlison | Everton FC | 1 |
| Dennis, Emmanuel | Watford FC | 1 |
