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De Rossi opted to stick with Roma. Andrew Medichini/AP/Press Association Images

De Rossi: Joining Manchester United would have been 'suicide'

The Italian midfielder has expressed his relief at remaining with Roma last summer.

ROMA MIDFIELDER DANIELE De Rossi has declared his relief at avoiding a close-season move to Manchester United.

The 30-year-old was heavily rumoured to be a transfer target for the Old Trafford outfit, but opted to remain in his home city.

And De Rossi has insisted that Rome is where the heart is, claiming a move to the north west of England would have driven him to take drastic measures.

“Thank goodness I did not go to Manchester, otherwise I would have committed suicide by now,” he is quoted as saying by Corriere dello Sport.

“Had I gone, I would never be able to see a lot of Rome.”

De Rossi is currently enjoying a successful season at the Stadio Olimpico, with his club sitting second in Serie A, while United are faltering under the leadership of David Moyes in the Premier League.

A one-club man, De Rossi has made 16 appearances for Roma so far this season, scoring one goal.

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46 Comments
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    Mute James Corcoran
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    Jan 3rd 2014, 11:29 AM

    Using a suicide analogy for playing football is probably not very appropriate .

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    Mute Shane Kearney
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    Jan 3rd 2014, 12:38 PM

    Especially considering the comfortable and wealthy life he probably leads

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    Mute Big Pat
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    Jan 3rd 2014, 1:42 PM

    Footballers kill themselves too.

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    Mute Loui G'diver
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    Jan 3rd 2014, 3:34 PM

    I think what he really means is that it’s Roma’s best chance to win the since they last won it in 2000- 2001 season so he have hated it if he had left in the summer

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    Mute Barra Ó Longargáin
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    Jan 3rd 2014, 12:35 PM

    More rubbish by the score and other media, just because he mentioned united and suicide in the same sentence has been totally taken out if context. The man is Roma through and through, yes United did come in for him but he wanted to stay at Roma, If he had of went to united and seen were Roma are now he’d be sick, don’t think it was a dig at united but stupid thing to say tho. Suicide is not something to be joking about or a throw away remark, especially someone in his position.

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    Mute Adrian De Cleir
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    Jan 3rd 2014, 6:22 PM

    Not trolling here, but maybe suicide is something we shouldn’t be afraid to joke about.

    Perhaps that’s the problem, it’s so deep, dark, mysterious, hush hush that it keeps the taboo of being suicidal in place, thus preventing any people with those thoughts to ever bring it up. The taboo of being suicidal is then securely and sadly maintained.

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    Mute Michael O'Reilly
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    Jan 3rd 2014, 9:10 PM

    Well said. Everyone knows he didn’t mean it to be taken so seriously. Is a throwaway comment by an Italian footballer going to drive people to kill themselves? Jesus, you can hardly mention the word ‘suicide’ anymore without being pilloried. It’s nearly worse than the c word! We need to be talking about and using this word more, not hiding behind it.

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    Mute Mitch Connor
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    Jan 3rd 2014, 12:25 PM

    Rome may have the Coliseum, the trevi fountain & the Vatican.

    But Manchester has….. has……. mmmmm…….

    51
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    Mute Paulie Walnuts
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    Jan 3rd 2014, 12:31 PM

    Terry Christian

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    Mute Dub Cell
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    Jan 3rd 2014, 1:44 PM

    The Trafford Center is quite good. It’s got a Selfridges and everything…

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    Mute Paulie Walnuts
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    Jan 3rd 2014, 11:53 AM

    Why would Di Rossi go to a lifeless kip like old Trafford? United are going backwards & have an impersonator managing a muck squad. Fellaini & Leon Osman are the only type of players that sinking ship could attract

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    Mute Mr Know It All
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    Jan 3rd 2014, 12:47 PM

    The farce limps on, United have been fantastic mileage this year. Deep down Id imagine even their fans know they deserve every bit of what they’re getting right now. Everyone likes to see people with a self entitlement taken down a peg or two, long may it continue because the bottom hasn’t fell out of this one.

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    Mute Alex Olsen
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    Jan 3rd 2014, 12:59 PM

    “deserve every bit of what they’re getting” & “a self entitlement ” ?? what does all that mean?

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    Mute Mr Know It All
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    Jan 3rd 2014, 1:09 PM

    *Having the piss ripped out of them

    *General arrogance over the last 20 years of so.

    You must have noticed

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    Mute Dub Cell
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    Jan 3rd 2014, 1:51 PM

    It’s not arrogance on United fans part at all, it’s actually jealousy coming from the fans of other clubs who have been nowhere near as successful in the last 20 years. You can say what you like but united as a club are by no means finished just because they don’t win the league this year.

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    Mute John Brady
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    Jan 3rd 2014, 11:39 AM

    Currently enjoying a successful season !! 1 goal in 16 appearances !!! Honestly People at the Score does anyone actually proof read the stories . And yet again more sensationalised headlines that are completely taken out of context !

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    Mute Paulie Walnuts
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    Jan 3rd 2014, 11:51 AM

    Ms Brady is a fine thing

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    Mute Panch Murphy
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    Jan 3rd 2014, 1:18 PM

    Well considering he is a combative defensive midfielder who also occasionally fills in at centre half playing in a team with one of the best defensive records in Europe this season and second in their league I would say that he’s having a successful season actually!

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    Mute John Brady
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    Jan 3rd 2014, 2:12 PM

    She certainly is .. And is tucked up nicely in my bed every night

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    Mute Mattew Keane
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    Jan 3rd 2014, 2:38 PM

    John Brady pay no attention to this muppet walnuts , he’s the same trolling idiot that was on the journal using the account daviddemoyes earlier and he still can’t spell .

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    Mute Mr Know It All
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    Jan 3rd 2014, 2:48 PM

    @John Brady, have you even heard of De Rossi before you made that comment. The man is a defensive midfielder and one of the finest in Europe over the last ten years.

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    Mute Declan Doyle
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    Jan 3rd 2014, 12:23 PM

    30 year old midfielder unlikely to feature in united next signings I would have thought.

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    Mute Frasier Crane
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    Jan 3rd 2014, 1:21 PM

    Because Cleverley and Fellaini are working out so well and another of their ex targets Rodwell is lighting up the scene at Man City.

    They are also linked with Sneijder and Cambiasso; who like De Rossi, have been there, done it and got the t-shirt.

    14
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    Mute Mongoose
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    Jan 3rd 2014, 2:16 PM

    Roswell lighting up at man city…. FFS a place on the bench is all he gets. What a ridicoulous comment

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    Mute David Speakman
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    Jan 3rd 2014, 2:29 PM

    He was definitely being sarcastic

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    Mute Joseph Charles Halpin
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    Jan 3rd 2014, 4:44 PM

    Wow a new level of dim there.

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    Mute Eric Campbell
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    Jan 3rd 2014, 1:53 PM

    Any chance of putting up the actual full quote where he says “Manchester United or any other club would have been suicide. I always dreamed of challenging for the title with Roma”

    21
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    Mute Colette Carroll
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    Jan 3rd 2014, 12:35 PM

    “Thank goodness I didn’t go to Man Utd, otherwise right now I’d be killing myself” – or possibly kicking himself, or he’d be as sick as a parrot or whatever terminology you fancy using yourself. Can’t imagine that he ever meant it to be taken literally and believe no offence is meant/was meant (in a comment that was meant to have been made privately so how the hell did it get out to the media in the first place?)

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    Mute Paulie Walnuts
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    Jan 3rd 2014, 2:48 PM

    Keane…. You are a trolling dirt box

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    Mute Mattew Keane
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    Jan 3rd 2014, 2:55 PM

    Your silly immature comments don’t work on me son

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    Mute Paul Bracken
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    Jan 3rd 2014, 2:17 PM

    Anything man u is big buisness. Be it paper on tinternet or whatever they are a journalists dream. They provoke more reaction than any other club and even more from non man u suppporters. Everybody has an opinion on anything utd related.

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    Mute Paulie Walnuts
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    Jan 3rd 2014, 2:23 PM

    Here’s my opinion. Hell isn’t hot enough for players & fans alike

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    Mute Declan Doyle
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    Jan 3rd 2014, 2:23 PM

    “Self entitlement from united fans”. What are you talking about sir ?
    The bile spilling out against united at the moment is really quite something.
    Who do you support ?

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    Mute Mr Know It All
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    Jan 3rd 2014, 2:53 PM

    The wheel always turns Declan, United supporters delighted in the demise of others over the years.

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    Mute Alex Olsen
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    Jan 3rd 2014, 7:34 PM

    I think everyone delighted in the demise of Liverpool after the 80s. Especially their “arrogant” fans with their” sense of self entitlement” blah blah blah

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    Mute Paulie Walnuts
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    Jan 3rd 2014, 12:43 PM

    Birch apologies. I’m talking about Kurt Barlow. A relative perhaps? If so have a word please

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    Mute Birch Barlow
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    Jan 3rd 2014, 12:47 PM

    Cool man, no worries!

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    Mute william motley
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    Jan 3rd 2014, 1:51 PM

    Ahemm!

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    Mute Declan Doyle
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    Jan 3rd 2014, 5:13 PM

    Wouldn’t be my experience mr know it all to be honest. The interesting thing at the moment is the actual level of bitterness and anger being expressed by some toward Man U. Hope writing it down is proving cathartic and therapeutic for them because some of it is beyond the normal banter which I’m sure most enjoy and accept as part of the game.

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