Coach hopes talismanic midfielder will stick around.
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Roma coach Rudi Garcia has reiterated his desire to see star midfielder Daniele De Rossi stay at the club this summer amidst heavy interest from elsewhere, Sky Sports reports.
The 29-year-old Italian international has been linked with a switch to Chelsea over the recent weeks and they have been tipped to make a big money big at some point in the near future.
De Rossi finished the 2012-13 season with 29 appearances in all competitions but was often dropped and criticised by then coach Zdenek Zeman, causing him to reassess his options and consider a move away from the side where he has spent his entire career.
Breaking into the Roma side for the first time back in 2001-02, he has gone on to make 418 appearances for the capital side, scoring 47 goals in the process. He has played in almost every position for the club during this time and often takes over the captains armband when iconic striker Francesco Totti is missing.
However, Rudi Garcia has admitted that he doesn’t want to lose the influential midfielder by saying: “He is a great player and surely it’s better to have him with us than to see him leave.”
Chelsea are thought to be returning with an improved offer from their initial £11 million bid later this week.