Arsenal reportedly made offer for Roma youngster Salvatore Pezzella

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Arsenal are reportedly interested in a player who has been compared in playing style to Barcelona midfielder Miralem Pjanic, according to reports in Italy. 

MediaGol is suggesting that Arsenal have been ‘bewitched’ by the performances of the talented Roma midfielder Salvatore Pezzella. 

Pezzella has been in great form for Serie C side Modena during a loan deal this season. The previous season he impressed in the Roma Primavera squad, with 12 assists and eight goals from 39 games. That included some impressive performances in the UEFA Youth League. 

The Giallorossi have reportedly rejected an approach from Arsenal for the player, whom the report claims has been compared to Pjanic by former Roma midfielder Radja Nainngolan. It must be noted that the Belgian midfielder was more referring to Pezzella’s physical resemblance to the Bosnian star in an Instagram post from 2017. 

Pezzella himself has actually made it clear in the past that it is Roma legend Daniele De Rossi that he aims to emulate. 

“After Pjanic’s move to Juventus, Nainggolan calls me and tells me to take a photo with him,” Pezzella informed LaRoma24 last year. “Afterwards I go to Instagram and find his post with the words ‘Pjanic is back’. But my idol is De Rossi, I am inspired by him. I like the way he plays, he’s naughty, gritty. He is a great guy, he jokes with everyone, even with us who are much younger, he gives a lot of advice.”

Arsenal fans would no doubt have loved to see a top Italian talent brought to the club with the hopes of becoming the next De Rossi. 

However, it seems that Roma are intent on seeing him become a star at the Stadio Olimpico, with a potential loan move to Palermo currently the most likely next destination. 

Arsenal will simply have to keep an eye on his development and see if they can secure a deal somewhere down the line.