Roma director insists duo will not make Chelsea switch

Oli Fisher
Radja Nainggolan (L) and Miralem Pjanic (R): May have Chelsea moves blocked

Radja Nainggolan (L) and Miralem Pjanic (R): May have Chelsea moves blocked

Roma president James Pallotta has denied rumours that Radja Nainggolan and Miralem Pjanic will leave the club this summer.

Chelsea are reportedly interested in both players, but Pallotta slammed the speculation last month by stating Miralem Pjanic would not be departing for Stamford Bridge.

“There’s a lot of paper talk about players leaving, like Pjanic,” he said.

“I rule that out categorically, he doesn’t want to leave and we won’t sell him. Even just talking about it hurts the team, I’m tired of these rumours.”

The 58-year-old was forced to repeat the sentiments in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport.

“I have already said that we will not sell Pjanic and Nainggolan,” he told the Italian newspaper.

“I want to see them continue in the jersey of Roma.”

Palotta’s comments come after Pjanic hinted he could leave in the summer, despite being happy in the capital.

“I have a contract until 2018 but you never know in football,” he said.

“I enjoy playing with my team-mates here. We still have the final match of the season to play but nevertheless I’m happy at Roma.”

Meanwhile, Roma general director Mauro Baldisonni was forced to deny rumours that Walter Sabatini was in London to agree a deal for Nainggolan.
“Just because someone takes a photo while visiting Chelsea, people assume all sorts of things,” Baldissoni told Mediaset Premium.”He could have also visited Arsenal, Tottenham and other clubs to find out who is on the market and who isn’t.”Anyway, he was there with Mohamed Salah’s agent because we will be buying him outright this summer,” claimed Baldissoni.

Roma sit third in Serie A and have the possibility of finishing second in the table should they win at AC Milan in the final game of the season, but they must hope Napoli drop points.