FOCUS Champions League elimination may force Roma to sell Paredes
Roma’s disastrous Champions League is set to have serious consequences on their transfer dealings. Whilst director of sport Walter Sabatini claims that “this elimination will not change our strategy”, Coach Luciano Spalletti said that the club “can expect a long and difficult period, it’s a difficult defeat to digest and analyze”.
There is little doubt that Roma were planning to use the €30 million earnings from Champions League football to reinforce their midfield and find a replacement for Miralem Pjanic. With Amadou Diawara joining Napoli, Borja Valero was the hot name, with a €20m or so investment not forcing Roma to give anyone up.
Now that that money has vanished, and Financial Fair Play to be respected, Leandro Paredes looks likely to return to the chopping block, with the likes of Milan big fans of the Argentine midfielder.
Problem is, Roma don’t want to sell him to an Italian club, especially not one that can’t afford a transfer. Instead of a Milan loan, Roma will be looking to sell overseas. Beyond him, Sabatini has already begun shedding weight, with Sadiq Umar being prepared for a loan to Bologna and Vassilios Torosidis being sent on his way.
Though it isn’t likely in any way, losing Manolas or Nainggolan is not impossible, though if Roma sell the former before the summer is out, they’d have to forfeit 50% of the transfer fee to former club Olympiakos.
The only thing that is certain, however, is that tough times lie ahead.
@EdoDalmonte
