De Rossi had contemplated switch away from Rome.
Manchester United “missed the deadline” to sign Roma and Italy midfielder Daniele De Rossi according to coach Rudi Garcia, while the midfielder has revealed he thought about leaving.
The 30-year-old has admitted that while the thought of leaving his hometown club had crossed his mind earlier this summer, there were two factors which eventually persuaded him to stay.
Having spoken to Garcia ahead of the new season, De Rossi revealed that the French tactician made him feel like an important part of his new project for the club, and he has reaped the benefits of his decision thus far this season.
In addition, the Italian international also admitted that he could not quit the club with his last game being the Coppa Italia final defeat to bitter city rivals Lazio.
“This year, I felt it could be the right year to change because things did not go so well,” he said according to La Gazzetta dello Sport.
“There were lots of things which did not go well, but maybe there was one thing even greater which was not on for me: I could not contemplate my last game in a Roma shirt being that derby.
“That is the one thing I could not stomach. I could imagine myself in any other club in the world, lifting any trophy, but to think that my last game in a Roma shirt was a derby defeat in the Coppa Italia final… that would have been wrong.”
De Rossi has displayed some of his best form so far this season, helping the capital club to six consecutive wins to start the season with only one goal conceded as he continues to provide the protective screen in front of the defence.
Garcia recently told the French media how impressed he has been with his midfielder’s efforts, but revealed they had agreed a date after which De Rossi would not consider any offers from other clubs.
“This summer we discussed his future. He’s Roman, he’s from here, but there were big clubs after him and he was waiting to see. I said to him that I couldn’t lose him at the last minute so we fixed a date after which he would not move,” Garcia told L’Equipe.
“And that’s exactly what happened. The first league match came and a few days after Manchester United called the club, called him, but the date had passed and he didn’t move.”
Roma will look to protect their 100 per cent record against Inter Milan at the San Siro on Saturday night, with De Rossi inevitably set to play a crucial role.
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