"Roma tried to get rid of him in January, offering him to Inter as a makeweight in their unsuccessful bid to sign Davide Frattesi. They pushed even harder in August, contracting intermediaries to find him a new home. Talks were held with teams including West Ham and Besiktas, but none were able to strike a deal. How had it come to this?"
"Pellegrini was once a beloved club captain. A Rome-born Roma supporter, who joined the club's academy before his 10th birthday, he was the heir to Francesco Totti and Daniele De Rossi latest in a line of homegrown skippers. A story foretold, until this script was rewritten. Popular in his younger years, Pellegrini had more recently become a scapegoat for disgruntled elements of the Giallorossi's fanbase. There was not one incident that turned supporters against him, but rather a slow build-up of grievances."
"Some were straightforward if subjective: a perception that his performances had plateaued at a level below what should be expected from one of Roma's best-paid players. Others were built on hearsay and misinformation. After De Rossi was fired as Roma manager four games into last season, Pellegrini's car was set upon by supporters who accused him of conspiring against his former teammate."
Lorenzo Pellegrini is a Rome-born Roma academy graduate who became club captain and heir to Francesco Totti and Daniele De Rossi. Roma attempted to offload him in January and again in August, offering him to Inter and contacting intermediaries while holding talks with West Ham and Besiktas, but no deal materialized. His popularity declined as some fans perceived stagnation in performance and questioned his high wages. Conspiracy accusations followed managerial changes: supporters attacked his car after De Rossi's sacking and chanted for the captaincy to be removed. Pellegrini was also blamed by some supporters for Mourinho's dismissal, fueling animosity.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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