Karsdorp case: Are Mourinho and the Dutchman finding a truce at AS Roma?

Despite being singled out as someone who had 'betrayed' AS Roma, Rick Karsdorp might just have a future under Jose Mourinho after all.

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Rick Karsdorp’s time at AS Roma looked to have ended when, in November, Jose Mourinho made it clear that a player in his team had been told to find another club this winter. The Portuguese coach’s explosive comments after their draw at Sassuolo brought a lot of speculation, and Karsdorp was identified as the so-called traitor. 

Despite all that has since happened, with Karsdorp leaving the capital before the final Serie A matchday ahead of the 2022 World Cup, it now seems as though peace could be made between the full-back and Mourinho

In their recent friendly against LaLiga side Cadiz, Karsdorp started and played 45 minutes before being taken off at half time. The score was 1-0 to the Spaniards when he came off and Roma went on to lose 3-0.

Jose Mourinho in the press room at the Mapei Stadium.

Karsdorp’s test

La Gazzetta dello Sport have written positively about Karsdorp’s showing in the game, stating that he was tuned in and “not like a player whose head is elsewhere”, suggesting that he may still have a future at Roma. His involvement in the game, despite the loss, was seen as a positive.

Mourinho’s criticism of Karsdorp was based on the player’s supposed bad attitude.

Gazzetta added that a 45-minute appearance in a mid-season friendly is unlikely to spark a dramatic change for Karsdorp and Mourinho’s relationship at Roma, though his presence is of course more of a positive than his omission would have been.

Roma are in action again on December 19 against Casa Pia before a December 22 fixture against RKC Waalwijk. Karsdorp is expected to feature again in both games.

These mid-season matches could, then, present Karsdorp with a chance to prove Mourinho wrong and force his way back into the Portuguese’s plans at the Stadio Olimpico, should he want to stay in the Italian capital. 

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