Endrick was close to Roma but Mourinho blocked the move; January window could reopen the door

Manu Koné has ended weeks of transfer speculation by confirming he will remain at Roma, rejecting concrete interest from Chelsea in the final days of the transfer window. The midfielder, speaking from France's national team camp ahead of a fixture against Italy, said his commitment to head coach Gian Piero Gasperini is total and that the transfer market is now behind him. Koné had become one of the summer's most discussed players after a prominent World Cup showing elevated his value above €50 million. Roma fielded enquiries from Premier League clubs including Arsenal and Manchester United, and also had to manage the situation carefully given Financial Fair Play constraints. Chelsea mounted a concrete assault late in the window as they dealt with the possible departure of Enzo Fernández, but both Roma and Gasperini rejected the approach. Gasperini views Koné as a cornerstone of his project, a position held previously by De Rossi and Ranieri. Inter had also attempted to sign him a year earlier. Koné has chosen to stay with enthusiasm, bolstered by supporter affection and evident growth—confirmed by a recent brace against Inter. He is now a starter for France under Zidane and is preparing to face Italy, the nation against which he made his debut two years ago, shortly after joining Roma. He has reiterated he has no distractions: the market is behind him, and his focus is entirely on Roma.

A loan move for Endrick to Roma was nearly complete, with Real Madrid's agreement secured and the player on board, before José Mourinho intervened with a single phone call to keep him at his current club. Mourinho's promise—"Stay calm, remain and I'll get you playing"—was enough to convince the Brazilian to stay. However, the arrangement has not worked out as intended. This season Endrick has featured just once, for 4 minutes against Elche, leaving him frustrated by the lack of pitch time. The player now wants more opportunities, and Roma have re-emerged as a potential destination. A new loan in January, similar to his spell at Lyon, is being discussed, though France is not expected to be the target this time. Roma remain positioned to reopen talks with Endrick, whose willingness to join them has never wavered. The deciding factor is Mourinho's approval—and if the Portuguese manager continues to restrict the forward's minutes, he may find little reason to refuse a move.

Manu Koné has dismissed the prospect of a Chelsea move and reaffirmed his commitment to Roma after the midfielder came close to leaving the club during the summer transfer window. The French midfielder has become a key player for Roma this season, notably scoring twice in a 2–2 draw against Inter. He was also called up to the French national team during the international break. Koné's importance to Gasperini's plans meant the club resisted Chelsea's late approach. The midfielder has credited Roma with his development since joining from Borussia Mönchengladbach, where he played from 2021 to 2024. He arrived at the Serie A club at age 23 and has grown considerably both tactically and physically in that time. Speaking at a France press conference ahead of a fixture against Italy, Koné said: "Things have happened for me, but I'm at Roma, I'm focused. What happened has happened. I give 100% for this club, I'll give everything to meet expectations, and that's all." On his time in Rome, he added: "When I arrived in Italy, I was younger (I was 23), and that brought maturity to my playing style. I became more focused. Tactically, I didn't have the skills I have now. I also improved my energy management, which made me the player I am today. I was going through a difficult period at Borussia Mönchengladbach, and Roma approached me; I'm very grateful to them."