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Roma have sold Kostas Manolas to Napoli for €36m, bringing an end to a five-year association with the club.
The Greek defender joined from Olympiacos in 2014 as a replacement for Mehdi Benatia, and went on to make 206 appearances for the club - scoring nine times. His most famous goal, of course, was against Barcelona in the Champions League in 2017-18, which completed one of the most remarkable comebacks in the competition’s history. However, with a financial deadline looming, Manolas had to be sacrificed - with fellow defender Luca Pellegrini all set to join Juventus to make sure targets are met. Manolas could be replaced by Marc Bartra next month, who has been linked with a move from Real Betis. Grazie, Kostas.
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Roma and Juventus are close to agreeing a swap deal that would see Luca Pellegrini move to the champions and Leonardo Spinazzola come to the capital.
Pellegrini is hot property after impressing in the second half of last season on loan at Cagliari, and has been linked with a number of clubs. The Roman-born defender made his debut for his hometown club last September, and many believe he is now capable of taking up a more prominent role in the first team. However, Sky Sport's Gianluca Di Marzio claims that Juventus are in talks with Roma over acquiring Pellegrini, who is represented by agent Mino Raiola. The Old Lady have offered Spinazzola in exchange as part of the agreement. After years of being loaned away from Turin, 26-year-old Spinazzola finally made his debut for Juventus in January 2019 after overcoming an ACL injury, and put in some decent performances. However, as understudy to Alex Sandro, he will surely be looking for more gametime elsewhere, to boost his chances of keeping a place in Roberto Mancini's Italy squad. The swap could be completed very shortly, with medicals expected to take place for both players this weekend. Roma will have to pay €10m on top of the €15m they will receive for Pellegrini in order to take Spinazzola. Roma will enter the 2019-20 Europa League in the group stages after AC Milan's withdrawal from the competition was confirmed.
Roma had been scheduled to play either Debrecen or Kukesi in the second qualifying round in early July, but Milan's agreement with UEFA means that the Giallorossi will take their place in the group stages instead - with Torino replacing Roma in the qualifiers. Milan have found themselves in breach of Financial Fair Play rules in recent seasons, which led to this decision. On Wednesday, Roma announced the cancellation of their pre-season training camp at Pinzolo, which fuelled speculation that they would be entering at a later stage of the competition. Roma will be a top seed for the groups, along with the likes of Sevilla and Manchester United, due to their strong UEFA coefficient. Roma winger Stephan El Shaarawy has denied reports that he will accept a move to Chinese Super League side Shanghai Shenhua.
With just one year left on his contract, El Shaarawy had been linked with a move away from Roma, despite widely being considered the club's best player last season. Reports suggested that the 26-year-old was the subject of interest from China, where he would be offered eye-watering wages. Despite initial suggestions that he would be willing to accept the move, it has since been claimed that El Shaarawy has decided to stay in Europe - something which he has now confirmed to La Repubblica. "I don't feel like leaving Europe," he admitted. "I still want to play football at a more important level. It's too early - I'm not even 27 - to make such a drastic choice." Sporting director Gianluca Petrachi may now turn his attentions to renewing El Shaarawy's contract, before its expiration next summer. Kostas Manolas' proposed move from Roma to Napoli is virtually complete, with Amadou Diawara set to head the other way.
Manolas is set to be sacrificed so that Roma can balance the books, which will bring an end to his five-year stay with the club. The Greek defender has made more than 200 appearances in that time, and is perhaps best remembered for scoring the goal which completed Roma's extraordinary comeback against Barcelona in the 2017-18 Champions League. Sky Sport's Fabrizio Romano revealed yesterday that the operation to send Manolas to Naples is complete, with Roma earning €34m from the transfer. Meanwhile, Diawara will join Roma for €18m plus €2m in bonuses, having been requested by new head coach Paulo Fonseca. Gianluca Petrachi has worked quickly to find Manolas' replacement, with Gianluca Di Marzio reporting that Roma's new sporting director has had lunch with the agent of Real Betis' Marc Bartra today in view of a potential move. Bartra, who has experience playing for Barcelona and Borussia Dortmund under his belt, would cost around €20m. Steven Nzonzi will face sanctions from Roma after not turning up for his medical tests at Trigoria yesterday.
Every member of the squad who wasn't on international duty - apart from Diego Perotti, who was given permission to have his tests today instead - visited Villa Stuart yesterday to have their medical check-ups before the beginning of pre-season training this afternoon. However, Nzonzi was absent without reason, and it is now believed he will be punished by the club. The French midfielder, who proved a divisive figure in his first season with the club, is set to face a fine when he returns to Trigoria - while he will also be placed on the transfer list. In his homeland, Lyon are pressing for the 30-year-old, who signed a four-year contract when he arrived from Sevilla last summer. According to Corriere Dello Sport, this was the reason for Nzonzi's absence yesterday, and a deal should become a formality soon. Roma need at least €25m from any sale of Nzonzi, so the operation could be a loan with an obligation to buy once certain clauses are met. Follow Giallorossi Yorkshire on Twitter for all the latest Roma news and views! Roma have officially confirmed the appointment of Gianluca Petrachi as the club's new sporting director.
Petrachi arrives from Torino, where he spent a successful decade, and will begin work with Roma from 1st July. The 50-year-old has put pen to paper on a three-year contract with Roma and will soon get to work in the transfer market. "Coming to Roma is an exciting and stimulating opportunity for me," he told the club's website. "I am well aware of the expectations of a club and a fanbase of this size - and because of that I was eager to accept this great challenge." Primavera midfielder Freddi Greco has signed for Torino as a makeweight in the deal. The experienced director will now set about crafting the squad to new head coach Paulo Fonseca's requirements. Benvenuto, Gianluca. All the latest Roma transfer news as pre-season begins and Gianluca Petrachi arrives, including updates on Nicolo Zaniolo, Elseid Hysaj and Javier Pastore.
Roma reject Juve's Zaniolo offer Italian midfielder Nicolo Zaniolo has been heavily linked with a move to Juventus, and according to Gazzetta Dello Sport's Nicolo Schira, the first offer for the player has arrived. The Serie A champions offered €35m for the teenager, a price which Roma judged to be too low. Juve are expected to return with a fresh bid, undeterred. Striker bid scuppered According to Corriere Dello Sport, Roma are trying to beat Sampdoria to the signing of Dutch striker Sam Lammers, who scored 16 goals in 30 appearances for Heerenveen last season. Samp want full cash for Andersen One of the names tipped to replace Kostas Manolas if the Greek defender leaves Roma is Sampdoria's Joachim Andersen. However, La Repubblica say that the Giallorossi's offer of cash plus Gregoire Defrel and Davide Frattesi has been turned down by the Blucerchiati, who want a straight sum of €35m for the player. Roma consider Brazilian defender Another defender who could come in is Leo Pereira of Athletico Paranaense, who Calciomercato.it say is the subject of interest from Roma. The club have been quoted a price tag of €15m for the 23-year-old. Roma rival London duo for defender A third centre-back to be linked with the club is Saint-Ettiene's William Saliba, with L'Equipe claiming that the French outfit want between €25m and €30m for the teenager, who is also being tracked by Arsenal and Tottenham. Pastore responds to fan question When reporting back for his medical tests today, Javier Pastore was asked by a fan if he will stay next season. The attacking midfielder was caught on camera responding: "Yes, where do I go?" Veretout agent to bring another player to Roma Yesterday, a successful meeting took place between Roma and the agent of Fiorentina midfielder Jordan Veretout. With the player expected to make a decision shortly, another of the agent's clients, Elseid Hysaj, has been proposed to Roma. Corriere Dello Sport report that the Albanian is Roma's first choice target if Alessandro Florenzi leaves for Inter. Napoli play hard ball with Mertens Another move that is close to completion is that which will take Manolas to Napoli. Roma have been offered Dries Mertens in return, but the asking price will be €30m, say Leggo. Midfielder gives green light A third Napoli player linked with Roma is midfielder Amadou Diawara, who has given his approval to the move. Calciomercato.it say that he could earn €1.3m per season in the capital if the two clubs can reach an agreement. Roma's appointment of Gianluca Petrachi as sporting director has moved a step closer after Primavera midfielder Jean Freddi Greco confirmed his departure to Torino.
Petrachi will be the permanent replacement for Monchi, who failed to create what was expected of him at Roma. Torino president Urbano Cairo was angered by Roma's approach for Petrachi, who still had a year left on his contract with the Granata, and reports indicated that he was demanding a player from the Giallorossi as compensation. That player will be Freddi Greco, an Italy youth international aged 18, who revealed to Gazzetta Regionale that he has signed with the Turin club. "Torino is a great team and has a great youth sector," he explained. "I'm happy with my choice and I hope to grow as a player and as a person. "I owe a lot to Roma, they were nine emotional years in which I learned a lot and it is thanks to Roma that I have reached this goal. "The future is unpredictable, I don't want to talk about it, for now I think of doing well at Torino. I have signed today and on Thursday I will have my medical at Torino." It is expected that fellow Primavera player Flavio Bucri will also move to Turin before Petrachi can be freed. Roma CEO Guido Fienga has confirmed that Franco Baldini has no official role within the club - but still has a close relationship with James Pallotta.
Baldini has drawn the wrath of the fans due to his role in the decision not to offer a new contract to Daniele De Rossi, while he was also cricitised by Francesco Totti upon his departure from the club. Despite few of Baldini's calls proving to be successful, Totti admitted that the final decisions will always be made by the former sporting director. At a meeting for club shareholders at Trigoria, Fienga revealed the extent to which Baldini is involved with the running of the club. "Baldini is a consultant of the majority shareholder," he explained. "He has no role in the governance of the company. "The management of the company is a collective that elaborates the strategies and determines their execution. The definition of the strategies and the decisions of them belong only to the management of this company. "Since I assumed the position of chief executive, starting from the choice of [Claudio] Ranieri, up to the selection process of the new sporting director, passing through the appointment of the new coach, Paulo Fonseca, it all happened through a decision-making process managed and finalised by the management of this company.” Even though he played a big role in assembling the last Roma side to win the Scudetto, Baldini is swiftly losing popularity among the fans - but it appears his influence will continue despite Fienga's comments. |
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