‘Even better’: Jose Mourinho says two players have massively improved since being sold by Chelsea

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Jose Mourinho reckons Tammy Abraham and Fikayo Tomori have actually stepped up another level since leaving Chelsea.

Speaking to Sky Sports, the Roma manager credited the pair for switching Stamford Bridge for Serie A and creating a name for themselves in the process.

Tomori takes the step out of Chelsea

There is no doubt that the graduates from Cobham’s school of footballing excellency have hit the top grades during their time in Italy.

Tomori was first to move class after his former teacher Frank Lampard sent him away on loan in January to AC Milan last season.

The 24-year-old made such an impression in just a few months that the Milan hierarchy made his move permanent in the summer.

In that same transfer window, Abraham set sail from South West London, having been placed in a similar boat to his academy colleague.

He was cast to the wings by Thomas Tuchel, unused and largely unnoticed.

Romelu Lukaku’s return to Chelsea signalled the end for the young striker, who decided to head in the opposite direction and take the plunge across the continent.

All’s well for Abraham with Mourinho

Having dived in at the deep end, Abraham has pretty regularly been receiving high marks from the judges.

No player has scored more times in their debut campaign at Roma than the Englishmen, with 24 to his name in 49 games.

Tuchel wouldn’t mind wielding such an efficient number nine…

That privilege goes to Mourinho, who has certainly benefited this term from raiding his old club.  

“I don’t say proven everybody wrong because I think everyone knows he’s a good player and I think also, with (Chris) Smalling, Tomori and Tammy, showing the English boys that there is life outside the Premier League and in Italy there’s a life that makes them even better players,” he said about Abraham and the other British ex-pats.

Chris Smalling was ahead of his compatriots in terms of exchanging England for the coliseums.

The defender left Manchester United in 2020 to join Roma on a full-time basis, following a successful loan spell.

He was joined a year later by Abraham and then Ainsley Maitland-Niles in January, the midfielder axed by Mikel Arteta at Arsenal.

Maybe more should take heed and try their luck in the Italian league.

After all, it worked for Lukaku!  

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