AS Roma could sell Chelsea target Radja Nainggolan if they get a decent offer for him, says the club’s Sporting Director Walter Sabatini.
Nainggolan has long been linked with a move to Chelsea, with Blues’s incoming manager Antonio Conte looking to sign the Belgian in order to boost his midfield.
Miralem Pjanic, who has been linked with a move to Roma’s Serie A rivals Juventus could also be on the move this summer, according to Sabatini.
“There is the possibility [of keeping Nainggolan and Pjanic], but it also depends on them,” Sabatini was quoted as saying in La Gazzetta dello Sport. “We can try to keep hold of them to make our squad as competitive as it has been in recent years and I think we will do, but the market is active and we have lots of possibilities to get what we need.
Sabatini also ruled out the one sure-shot ploy that clubs use to keep their top players — giving them a raise. He said, “It would not be advisable for them to come and ask for more wages, though, but I don’t think they will do that.”
While Sabatini’s comments have fueled widespread speculation about the future of the two players, Radja Nainggolan has indicated to the media that he wants to stay in the Italian capital.
“Stay at Roma? I have said I want to stay,” Nainggolan was quoted as saying in Il Tempo.
Chelsea can use the wage situation to woo Nainggolan
Roma sporting director Sabatini has clearly stated that the club will not be able to offer higher wages to its players, in order to persuade them to stay. This is one area where Chelsea can capitalise to catch the interest of Nainggolan.
The Blues have signed a couple of lucrative sponsorship deals, and that should allow them to afford the players incoming manager Antonio Conte wants.
They have already started a deal with title sponsors Yokohama ahead of the 2015/16 season, that earns them around £40 million a year. To top that off, Chelsea also have a £60 million a year kit sponsorship deal with Nike in the pipeline, according to reports.
The club have specifically gone for these contracts in order to deal with the loss they are set to suffer from their failure to qualify for next season’s Champions League.
