Granit Xhaka is set to fulfil a huge personal ambition by finally signing for a club managed by Jose Mourinho.
Xhaka is ready to leave Arsenal after five years at the Emirates and join Roma, who recently appointed Mourinho as the successor to Paulo Fonseca.
The Swiss midfielder joined the Gunners in the summer of 2016 from Borussia Monchengladbach for £35m, but Arsenal will only recoup less than half of that after lowering their demands this week.
He has proven to be a divisive figure over the course of his career at the club but has been a mainstay under three consecutive managers, despite some high-profile errors and disciplinary issues.
According to ESPN, Xhaka felt his adaptation period under Arsene Wenger was undermined by the Frenchman’s disregard for a tactical approach, specificarly in relation to positional discipline.
Though, Mourinho’s star has waned somewhat since his stints at Chelsea, but Xhaka is said to be confident the Portuguese coach can help him build on the progress he made under Arteta last season.
Xhaka produced, arguably, his best displays for the club over the last 12 months, despite Arsenal’s struggles which culminated in a failure to qualify for any European competition for the first time in 25 years.
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Speaking about his disappointment at the club’s decline on Thursday, Xhaka said: ‘Football is a team sport and you’re only as good as your team.
‘Of course, it was a good year for me personally. I’ve always played and performed. ‘But the place at the end of the season is, of course, really bitter and disappointing for us.’
