Mourinho wants Roberto Firmino years on from heated row with Klopp

Reports in Italy claim Roma want to sign Liverpool forward Roberto Firmino on a free transfer at the end of the season – as part of their bid to keep Jose Mourinho at the club. The Giallorossi moved up to third in Serie A table on Sunday with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Udinese at the Stadio Olimpico and now the club are desperate to kick on by securing Champions League football for the 2023/24 campaign.

Should they achieve that, it’s only likely to bolster Mourinho’s stock and the Portuguese managerial icon has already been linked with a shock return to Chelsea.

With Mourinho under contract until 2024, Roma are still optimistic they can convince The Special One to extend his stay by backing him in the transfer market.

Calciomercato in Italy claim they are among the clubs in the mix to sign Firmino when he leaves Liverpool at the end of the season.

The classy attacker recently confirmed he’d decided against signing a new deal at Anfield as he seeks to pursue a new challenge in Europe.

A whole host of top clubs including AC Milan, Inter Milan, Atletico Madrid and Juventus have already been credited with interest in Liverpool’s highest-scoring Brazilian, who is unlikely to be short of offers this summer.

Roma have already made several high-profile signings under Mourinho including Paulo Dybala, Tammy Abraham and Gini Wijnaldum on loan from Paris Saint-Germain.

Now they could look to add further firepower to their frontline at the end of the season, should they be able to entice Firmino into a move to Italy.

Interestingly, the 31-year-old was once at the centre of a spat between Mourinho and his current boss Jurgen Klopp back in early 2017.

The two managers became embroiled in a touchline bust-up at Old Trafford during Liverpool’s 1-1 draw at Manchester United when Klopp believed Mourinho was trying to get the Brazilian sent off.

Firmino was involved in a confrontation with Ander Herrera which saw the Spanish midfielder end up on the floor.

Mourinho was quick to defend his animated touchline antics after the match, stating: “He thought I was asking for his player to be sent off. I wasn’t. There was no problem at all. I think the game was correct. I think the players gave everything but in an emotional and professional way so the referee did very well in that part of the game – emotional and in control of good professionals.

“There was aggression but it was good so I think it was great publicity for the Premier League all around the world.”

The Special One is also believed to be attracting interest from the Middle East, where eye-watering money is currently on offer.

Saudi Arabia are keen to use Cristiano Ronaldo’s profile and superstar status to grow the game in their nation with Al Hilal also interested in signing Lionel Messi at the end of the season.

Mourinho is yet to commit his future to Roma and is expected to assess his options at the end of the season.

Paris Saint-Germain have also been linked with the serial winner with Christophe Galtier expected to be relieved of his duties at the end of the campaign.