Forgotten Roma star Georginio Wijnaldum had a nice Thursday. The 32-year-old midfielder made his comeback on the training field in the morning and later in the day immediately joined the selection of coach José Mourinho for a training camp to Portugal.
Wijnaldum broke his tibia in August and therefore missed the World Cup in Qatar with the Dutch national team. He has been working on his comeback ever since. Last week, images of Wijnaldum in the weight room of Roma surfaced and he finally returned to the field on Thursday. ‘The best feeling’, is how the Dutchman described it on Twitter.
The 32-year-old midfielder immediately joined a training camp to Portugal
Later in the day, Wijnaldum flew with Roma to Portugal, where the team will camp for a week. Rick Karsdorp also traveled along. The right back is on the nomination to leave the Italian club after a disagreement with Mourinho. Roma practiced in Portugal against RKC Waalwijk, Cádiz and Casa Pia.
Mourinho received the necessary questions from Portuguese journalists upon arrival on Thursday. On the same day it was announced that Fernando Santos will leave as Portugal coach, after which Mourinho’s name was soon named as successor. The trainer didn’t feel like answering the questions.
In an earlier interview with ESPN, Wijnaldum explains that he is especially happy that Ronald Koeman is returning as national coach. “I am glad that Koeman is coming, yes. I have a very good relationship with him, but it’s not that I don’t like Van Gaal or anything,” the former Liverpool man said.
“I’m really open and honest and think: if you don’t do well, you also have to make room for the next one,” the Rotterdammer responded to his removal from the selection. Still, he had hoped for more appreciation. “I did well, that’s right, but there were indeed lesser matches. Of course I only expected more credit.”
In that respect, Koeman has come at the right time. Van Gaal’s successor has a good record with Wijnaldum and will return when the veteran is fit again. Although Wijnaldum also wants to make it clear that he has nothing against Van Gaal. “Louis saw it differently than I did, but it’s not that I’m happy that Koeman is returning. I also had great moments with Van Gaal,” he concluded.
