Roma freezes player sales amid UEFA negotiations to avoid further fines

Zeki Celik is close to signing a new three-year contract with AS Roma following Turkey's elimination from the World Cup at the group stage. The club and player have reached an agreement in principle, with an announcement expected in the coming days. However, Celik will not be Gasperini's starting right-back. The head coach has requested reinforcement on the right flank and views Celik as a versatile option who can operate on either wing or as a right centre-back to rotate with Gianluca Mancini. Gasperini's primary target for the right-back position is a younger profile than Molina, who is considered a secondary option at 28 years old. Dodô is not being pursued, as Roma has not made any formal approach for the player. On the left side, Wesley remains a key part of the plans after rejecting Chelsea and is ready for the upcoming season. Ruggeri is not a target for Roma. The club will seek an alternative to Wesley on the left, with Angeliño expected to depart. Roma continues to work on contract extensions for key players, with Celik's renewal progressing alongside talks with Paulo Dybala and Lorenzo Pellegrini regarding their own deals.

Roma has relied heavily on selling young academy graduates to balance its books over the past four years, generating substantial revenue while protecting its established squad. Since 2022, the club has disposed of numerous youth products, including Felix Afena-Gyan (€6 million plus bonuses to Cremonese in 2022), Riccardo Calafiori (€2.5 million to Basilia with 40% resale clause), Benjamin Tahirovic and Cristian Volpato (€7.5 million each to Ajax and Sassuolo respectively in 2023), and Joao Costa (€9 million to Al-Ettifaq in 2024). Most recently, Alessandro Romano transferred to Cagliari for €5 million plus performance bonuses. This strategy aligns with the Friedkin Group's approach to comply with UEFA's Settlement Agreement, reducing accumulated losses and restoring financial sustainability—the club prefers paying UEFA penalties over accepting roster limitations rather than conducting fire sales of its key players. The Calafiori situation illustrates the long-term value creation from these sales. Roma pursued legal action against Basilea over resale percentages following the defender's move to Bologna and subsequently Arsenal, ultimately securing a settlement of approximately €6–6.5 million. Similarly, Edoardo Bove's 2024 loan to Fiorentina (over €11 million with performance clauses) may yield Roma €10–15 million from insurance recovery following his medical emergency. José Mourinho's tenure significantly enhanced the club's ability to market young talent effectively, securing profitable exits even with minimal first-team appearances.

Walter Sabatini, former Roma sporting director, has commented on the club's Champions League qualification. Speaking to Corriere dello Sport, Sabatini emphasized that Roma cannot afford to be without European football at the highest level. He praised head coach Gian Piero Gasperini for working with unwavering faith and dedication throughout the season. Sabatini's remarks underline the significance of Roma's return to the Champions League and the role Gasperini has played in achieving that objective. The qualification represents a major milestone for the club under current ownership and marks a turning point after a challenging period.