Europa keeper is keen to repay Jose’s faith in him
SERGIO ROMERO has repaid Jose Mourinho for confirming that he will be Manchester United’s goalkeeper in the Europa League Final by revealing he wants to stay at the club for the rest of his life.
The Argentina No. 1 has made just five Premier League starts since Louis van Gaal signed him on a free in 2015. But Mourinho has made him his European keeper and has guaranteed he’ll play in the final in Stockholm later this month.
This despite David De Gea being acknowledged as one of the world’s best and the United boss needing victory against Ajax to fulfil his minimum remit of taking the club back into the Champions League.
“I am really happy with this,” says the 30-year-old goalie, who has been capped 87 times for his country despite only playing 169 League games in 10 seasons at AZ Alkmaar, Sampdoria and United.
“It is not easy when you don’t play a lot of games. But I have confidence in myself and when I play I am searching for the confidence of the manager and the players.
“I fight every day to be in this team. This is my life and I want to stay here for 10 years. I want to finish my career here.”
Romero was signed by AZ when Van Gaal was boss there and the Dutchman came back for him after he’d been freed by Sampdoria.
The previous summer Van Gaal had been reminded of Romero’s quality when he saved two penalties in a World Cup semi-final shoot-out against his Holland team in Brazil.
“When Van Gaal called me I was in Argentina and he asked if I wanted to come to United,” he says.
“Sometimes you are the No. 1, sometimes the No. 2 or No. 3. I have been all of these things.
“I came here for the No. 1 spot, but I know what my reality is. I am the second keeper.
“When I play, I demonstrate how capable I am. I show that I can do this job.
“I have never wanted to leave for more first-team opportunities because this club is so big and I am very happy.
“When I don’t play, I go back to my house feeling down but I have inside me the power to continue because I am the No. 1 in Argentina and this is my level.
“I will need this mentality for the final. I’ve won finals with the national team and I’ve lost twice on penalties and once in extra-time against Germany in the World Cup.
“A winner’s medal in Stockholm would be like a badge of honour.”
Romero has found shifting De Gea difficult, though things may change over the summer with Real Madrid ready to step up their pursuit of Spain’s No. 1.
“I don’t know anything of this but since I arrived we have worked together and helped each other.
“If I can help out Joel Pereira, the No.3 keeper, I will do it because I know I have something to offer him, too.”
De Gea is expected to replace Romero at Tottenham today and Mourinho is also planning to give Pereira game-time before the end of the season.
He says: “We have the Spain goalkeeper, Argentina’s goalkeeper and we have a young boy who is going to be the Portuguese No. 1.
“Joel is fantastic, just 20, made in the club, and I am going to give him a chance to play in the Premier League this season.
“I think Sergio deserves to play in the final. He and David are big friends, have a fantastic relationship and have handled it well.”