Kevin Strootman has confirmed that he nearly re-joined Roma this summer.
The Dutch midfielder was forced out of the club by former sporting director Monchi last summer, despite fellow experienced midfielder Radja Nainggolan also being sold. Strootman reunited with ex-Roma coach Rudi Garcia at Marseille – although the Frenchman has since left the club.
With Monchi gone, there were reports over the summer that Roma were considering re-signing Strootman, but the 29-year-old ended up staying put in Ligue 1.
However, he has now admitted that a return to Roma had been an option.
“Some things were moving in Italy,” he told VTBL.
“There was Roma, but Marseille didn’t find their offer interesting or sufficient.
“If your club tells you that you’re no longer welcome and your old team comes back in for you, you’d certainly think about it. But nothing was done.
“Last summer I signed on for five seasons with Marseille. If your president says something like that, it doesn’t feel nice.
“You’d rather them hear them say you’re important and that everyone wants you to stay. That wasn’t the case, it was the opposite.
“Regardless, I still had four years left on my contract and I didn’t feel like I had to leave.”
Strootman made 131 appearances for Roma over a five-year spell, although much of that time was plagued with injuries.
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