José Mourinho’s assistant, Salvatore Foti, feels the Special One deserved a ‘different farewell’ at Roma and believes there has ‘always been a lot of envy’ towards the Portuguese coach.
Foti has followed Mourinho at Fenerbahce after spending nearly two years with the ex-Giallorossi boss in the capital.
“There is a solid bond. We are both straightforward people, and our rapport has improved with time, fuelled by results and trust,” the former striker told Il Secolo XIX, as quoted by Corriere dello Sport.
“We’ve had strong experiences that have united us. I feel his trust.”
Mourinho spent two and a half years in the capital, winning one Conference League and reaching the Europa League Final. He failed, however, to earn a top-four finish and qualify for the Champions League.
“There has been a lot of envy towards him since the treble with Inter,” continued Foti.
“At Roma, we played two consecutive European Finals in two and a half years. We won the first one, and everyone saw how we lost the second one. Roma fans will remember them in 30 or 40 years. I don’t know when it will happen again.”
Roma lost the Europa League Final on penalties to Sevilla in 2023, but the Giallorossi were furious for a potential penalty kick denied by English referee Anthony Taylor.
Mourinho was so furious that he verbally abused the official inside the stadium garage after the game, receiving a four-game ban from UEFA.
The Portuguese was sacked by Roma in January 2024 with less than six months remaining in his contract.
“I think Mourinho deserved a different farewell,” concluded Foti.
“I’m sorry for how it ended, but the relationship with the owners deteriorated.”
