Rome Transfer Market: Manu Koné Is Now Worth a Fortune—Fans Are Worried
Roma fans are on the edge of their seats following Gian Piero Gasperini’s comments on Manu Koné’s future. “Manu is having a great World Cup; in just one year, he’s earned a starting spot on the French national team—he has tremendous potential. Will he stay with us? I think these financial fair play regulations vary from team to team; they aren’t set in stone. It’s undeniable that Roma needs to balance its books. I hoped—and still hope—that qualifying for the Champions League will be enough, but it’s clear that the budget is crucial for clubs. We’ll have more clarity in the coming weeks.”
Meanwhile, the French midfielder’s agents are reportedly in England to gauge the market and assess interest from certain clubs. Roma’s asking price, however, has risen: it would take around 60 million euros to convince the Giallorossi to sell Koné—a sum that would allow the club to significantly improve its financial position in relation to Financial Fair Play regulations.
Koné’s performance at the World Cup only fuels the interest surrounding him. France, after dominating its group and defeating Sweden, Paraguay, and Morocco in the knockout rounds, has advanced to the semifinal against Spain, scheduled for tonight. The Giallorossi midfielder has become a mainstay in Didier Deschamps’ lineup, living up to the high expectations the Roma management had for him at the time of his signing.
On the club front, Roma has meanwhile resolved one of the most delicate issues of the summer: Paulo Dybala has renewed his contract through June 30, 2027, with a salary of approximately 3 million euros net per season plus performance-based bonuses. The agreement was finalized in Trigoria after a long and tortuous negotiation process, which gained decisive momentum thanks to the intervention of new sporting director Tony D’Amico, the former sporting director of Atalanta, who is thus reunited with Gasperini. The coach himself had repeatedly and publicly reiterated his desire to keep the Argentine, who is considered an indispensable part of the team’s plans for a return to the Champions League.
