‘Raiola’s lying!’, Kostas Manolas plays down exit rumors
Raiola, whose client list does not include the Greek International, had revealed La Gazzetta dello Sport AS Roma would have struggled to keep Manolas in the squad as the best clubs around Europe are keeping tabs on him.
“Raiola is not my agent, my agent is Greek and he has never spoke to Mr. Raiola. I am happy to stay. I have three years left on my contract and the club will decide whether to sell me or to keep me.”
Despite denials, Manolas, 24, has attracted the interest of many European sides including Arsenal and Chelsea. Arsene Wenger wanted him even before Manolas joined AS Roma, while Antonio Conte would like to make him the new defensive leader at Stamford Bridge.
However, with Mehdi Benatia who’s rumored to be edging closer to Bayern Munich’s exit door next season, Manolas could be the perfect replacement of the Morocco International at the Allianz Arena.
The Giallorossi centre-back completed his AS Roma switch in 2014 for a fee of € 13 million and his price tag is now believed to be in the region of € 20 million, though Walter Sabatini might request anywhere in the region of € 40 million to let him leave.
Francesca Schito, translated by Lorenzo Bettoni @lorebetto
