Chelsea talks 'pleased' Dzeko but Roma striker has no regrets

Dom Farrell

Chelsea talks 'pleased' Dzeko but Roma striker has no regrets image

Edin Dzeko was flattered by Chelsea's January interest but maintains he remains happy at Roma.

The Bosnia-Herzegovina striker was heavily linked with a move to Stamford Bridge during the January transfer window and, while Emerson Palmieri did make the move from the Stadio Olimpico to west London, Antonio Conte was forced to fill his striking vacancy with a deadline-day swoop for Arsenal's Olivier Giroud.

Dzeko's form seemingly tailed off in the aftermath of the saga but he landed a punishing blow against Napoli's Serie A title ambitions with a brace in Roma's impressive 4-2 win at the start of this month.

The 31-year-old was suspended for the 3-0 win over Torino last time out but is primed for action as Eusebio Di Francesco's side welcome Shakhtar Donetsk in the last-16 of the Champions League on Tuesday, aiming to overturn a first-leg deficit.

"I am happy in Rome, with life in Rome and I don't like to look back at media rumours," the former Manchester City and Wolfsburg man told SportCentar in his homeland.

"They are sometimes true, sometimes just pumping for clicks. There was an offer, negotiations and I was really pleased that Chelsea wanted me.

"That is all I want to say about that, while I am enjoying in Rome."

Dzeko's double against Napoli also netted him a piece of history as reached the 50-goal mark in Serie A.

Having already done likewise in the Bundesliga and the Premier League, he is the first player to have brought up the landmark in three of Europe's big five leagues.

"I am proud to be first player to score 50-plus goals in three major leagues, I didn't even know no one managed that before me," he added.

"Each league is specific and I've done it in Germany, England and Italy."

Dom Farrell

Dom Farrell Photo

Dom is the senior content producer for Sporting News UK. He previously worked as fan brands editor for Manchester City at Reach Plc. Prior to that, he built more than a decade of experience in the sports journalism industry, primarily for the Stats Perform and Press Association news agencies. Dom has covered major football events on location, including the entirety of Euro 2016 and the 2018 World Cup in Paris and St Petersburg respectively, along with numerous high-profile Premier League, Champions League and England international matches. Cricket and boxing are his other major sporting passions and he has covered the likes of Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury, Wladimir Klitschko, Gennadiy Golovkin and Vasyl Lomachenko live from ringside.