Roma manager Jose Mourinho has clashed with his player Rick Karsdorp for betraying his teammates, asking him to leave the club.
Rick Karsdorp, who plays as a defender for the Italian outfit, is said to have incurred the wrath of the manager and the club for skipping training and failing to join mid-season training in Japan.
Meanwhile, before his recent blunder, he already had his name in the black books of Jose Mourinho back in November for allegedly betraying the team in a Serie A game against Sassuolo.
Rick Karsdorp refused to join team training at Trigoria, including a retreat by the team in Japan.
According to reports, Roma are planning to slam Karsdorp with a fine amounting to 5% of his monthly salary.
Based on the club’s rules, the Board of Arbitration will then pass judgment, with an ‘arbitrator’ appointed by each of the two parties and an independent president. The case could also go to the Court of Appeals.
Reacting to the development, Rick Karsdorp explained away the allegations on health grounds. He attributed his absence from the team to an assault he suffered on November 9 in the hands of Roma ultras after the team drew with Sassuolo.
Juventus settled for a 1-1 draw with Sassuolo. After the game, Roma ultras reportedly assaulted him in his house, leaving him worn out with mental stress.
However, Jose Mourinho has insisted Rick Karsdorp’s actions amount to betrayal.
”It was a team that wanted to win against a tough opponent, I am sorry that the efforts of the team were betrayed by the attitude of one unprofessional player”, Jose Mourinho said then.
“An unprofessional attitude that is not fair to his teammates, that is what disappoints me. A point away from home is still not a negative result and I am happy with the general attitude of my squad.”
After the Sassuolo game, Jose Mourinho did not actually disclose the identity of the erring player who betrayed his teammates. He insisted, he will not allow him to play for the club again.
When asked which player he meant, he said: ‘I won’t tell you. I had 16 players on the field tonight and I liked the attitude of 15 of them. In January, he needs to find himself another club.”
Rick Karsdorp was subbed on in the 65th minute. He reportedly showed little commitment on the pitch before Juventus finally surrendered their narrow 1-0 lead.
Amid the row between him, Mourinho and Roma, he has reportedly returned to training and may likely
leave the club in the January transfer window.
Meanwhile, his lawyer has fumed at how his client has been scapegoated by powerful individuals in the Roma hierarchy.
Karsdorp’s lawyer Salvatore Civale blamed the standoff on Jose Mourinho, who he said has a wrong attitude.
”This whole thing started because someone very famous at Roma had the wrong attitude, and he is not at all new to this sort of thing, specifically Jose Mourinho”, he said.
“When these comments to the media come from someone of his calibre and fame, unfortunately that generates a hostile atmosphere around a player, as you heard he was attacked by Roma fans in an airport and on social media.”
The 27-year-old Dutchman joined Roma in 2017, and has made 122 appearances for the club. Roma reportedly offered Karsdorp to Fulham, but the English club had no interest in the Dutch right-back.
Now, it is more likely Rick Karsdorp is exiting the club in the coming January transfer window as Roma doubles down on ending his spell with the club due to the faceoff.
