Cole denies rift with Mourinho over Chelsea exit
Posted Wednesday, July 16, 2014 by Talksport.co.uk
Ashley Cole admits he 'jumped at the chance' to join Roma and insists he still has a good relationship with former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho.
Former England international Cole moved to the Italian capital on a free transfer last week after the end of his eight-year spell at Stamford Bridge.
The 33-year-old made only 15 Premier League starts during his final season in west London, with manager Mourinho, who signed the defender from Arsenal in 2006, preferring to use right-back Cesar Azpilicueta on the left side of defence instead.
Cole has dismissed suggestions of a rift with his old boss and says his heart was set on a switch to the Stadio Olimpico once he had spoken with Roma boss Rudi Garcia.
He said: "First of all, me and Jose still had a good relationship. I was just getting a bit old for what he liked. As soon as I spoke to Rudi Garcia and I saw how much they wanted me here at Roma, I jumped at the chance."
Cole, who will become only the third Englishman to turn out in Serie A since the turn of the millennium, also feels English players are too afraid to test themselves outside of the Premier League.
He added: "I think probably English players are scared to come abroad, they’re in a comfort zone in England. I’ve never been out of London and it’s a big opportunity for me to try a different language, different culture and a different way of living."
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