Jose Mourinho claims he "knows Ainsley Maitland-Niles well" but was reluctant to talk about the player as he edges towards a Roma move.
The Arsenal star is closing in on a move to the Italian capital, where he would team up with the Special One.
A loan switch has been negotiated between the two sides as Maitland-Niles seeks more game time.
The versatile Englishman pushed for a move away in the summer and has remained on the outside of the starting XI this term.
Mourinho remained relatively tight-lipped when quizzed on his imminent arrival, but appeared to know all about the quality he was inheriting.
"I don't feel comfortable talking about him, because nobody has officially told me that he is our player," he said, via Football Italia.
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"He grew up at Arsenal when I was at Chelsea and Tottenham, so I know him well."
Maitland-Niles made a summer plea to play more games as Arsenal rejected approaches from potential suitors.
He said on social media: "All I wanna do is go where I'm wanted and where I'm gonna play."
He held showdown talks with Mikel Arteta but has started just twice for the Gunners, which has been a factor in his decision to move elsewhere.
Maitland-Niles' move is not thought to contain any option or obligation to buy.
Mourinho has continued to raid the Premier League for recruits since moving to the Stadio Olympico.
Tammy Abraham joined from Chelsea whilst he also signed Rui Patricio from Wolves.
Roma currently sit sixth - six points outside the Champions League places.
Mourinho has won ten of his 19 Serie A games but has taken a swipe at some of his rivals during the January transfer window.
He claims that his side must be shrewd with their recruitment as they cannot spend the sums that other teams are forking out.
"Everyone knows our transfer market profile, we cannot afford to spend the sums Atalanta and Fiorentina are shelling out in January, so we must seek one or two players on loan to improve the balance of the squad," he added.
"For example, Rick Karsdorp always played and we didn't have any alternatives when he was suspended against Inter, so we completely lost our way. If a player arrives for that role, we can breathe a little easier.
"The window runs to the end of the month, so if someone else arrives too, that's even better."
Arsenal could yet lose more players this month with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang among those linked with the exit door.
