Edin Dzeko and Paulo Fonseca held a meeting today to the discuss the events that caused a fracture between the two and its result was positive as the striker is set to resume being part of the squad after being disciplined in the last two games, Gianluca Di Marzio and Corriere dello Sport reported.
The striker had been excluded following the Coppa Italia match against Spezia due to some snarky remarks toward the manager, but after being allowed to practice regularly yesterday, he apologized today, adding that he is going to provide his usual contribution on and off the pitch. However, the captaincy that was taken away from the Bosnian forward will remain to Lorenzo Pellegrini. Dzeko will return among the call-ups for Saturday’s clash versus Juventus, although at this stage Borja Mayoral is considered the frontrunner for the starting job at no.9.
General manager Tiago Pinto orchestrated the summit and facilitated the reconciliation after receiving reassurances in individual talks with the duo. According to the Rome-based outlet, while the front office will levy a sizeable fine against Dzeko, they decided that a reinstatement was the most logical solution to finish the season serenely and to avoid having the highest paid player in the roster sitting on the stands.
The parties involved will now work together towards the common goal of the securing a Champions League berth, however a divorce in the summer seems inevitable at this point as the executives shopped Dzeko around during the January transfer market window.