Soccer-Dzeko left out for his own good says Fonseca amid transfer rumours

It's obvious that in a normal situation Dzeko would have played." Fonseca was pleased with Roma's first-half performance and impressed with Henrikh Mkhitaryan's effort as a false nine. "We played really well in the first half and missed four or five scoring chances," he said.

AS Roma's Bosnia forward Edin Dzeko was left out of their Serie A match at Verona for the player's own good amid transfer speculation, coach Paulo Fonseca said after Saturday's 0-0 draw. Dzeko, Roma's leading scorer for the last four seasons, has been linked with a move to champions Juventus and was an unused substitute in Saturday's match, Roma's first of the season.

"It's been a difficult weak for Dzeko," said Fonseca. "I took the decision for him not to play and I did it mainly for his own good. It's obvious that in a normal situation Dzeko would have played." Fonseca was pleased with Roma's first-half performance and impressed with Henrikh Mkhitaryan's effort as a false nine.

"We played really well in the first half and missed four or five scoring chances," he said. "If we had scored a quick goal, that would have changed the match. "I liked Mkhitaryan's performance as a false nine but we will need another forward and are working on that." (Writing by Brian Homewood; Editing by Ken Ferris)