Mkhitaryan a top player with high costs, gave up lots of money for Rome- Sporting Director Gianluca Petrachi

The midfielder has joined the Giallorossi on loan from Arsenal. 

Roma sporting director Gianluca Petrachi made high praise of Armenian midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan and mentioned the midfielder's sacrifices on making a loan switch from Arsenal to Rome. 

The midfielder joined the Gunners from Manchester United in January 2018 in a swap deal that saw Alexis Sanchez go the other way in what has since proved to be a fruitless deal for both parties, leading to widespread ridicule and criticism of the two. 

The pair have now been shipped off to Italy with Sanchez plying his trade at Inter Milan on loan as well. 

Despite the fiasco endured, Roma director Petrachi made no qualms about signing the 30-year old saying, "He is a top player with very high costs, the boy has given up on lots of money to come to Rome."

He added, "The idea was to invest in important young people. In situations where we found ourselves at the end of the market, or we made investments in young people or operations like those for Micky."

Despite seemingly relieved at his new office, Mkhitaryan was bombarded with questions surrounding his tempestuous times in the English top-flight. 

When asked of his tenure in England, Mkhitaryan replied "I have to enjoy playing football, no matter the place. In England, I no longer felt this pleasure."

He refrained from comparing the level of play in the two leagues stating "Now I am in Rome and have to focus on the team. This is not a step backwards as great football is played here." 

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Having put the bad times behind him, Mkhitaryan is upbeat and ready for the newest challenge in his career with Roma claiming, "I wanted to change air and for me, it is an opportunity to be seized. I will never give up and I will fight to the end. I'm not afraid of pressure, I'm used to having already played with great teams." 

Mkhitaryan is expected to start off along with fellow loan signing and former United teammate  Chris Smalling with Roma in their next Serie A game against Sassuolo on September 15 before kicking-off their Europa League campaign against Istanbul Basaksehir on September 21.