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Roma send transfer warning to Arsenal, Spurs and Barcelona

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Alessandro Florenzi

According to reports from Calcio Mercato, sporting director Walter Sabatini has insisted Roma will not be selling Arsenal, Barcelona and Tottenham Hotspur target Alessandro Florenzi anytime soon. 

A product of Giallorossi’s academy, the 24-year-old is a long-time favourite of the Stadio Olimpico faithful. He’s featured in central midfield, on the wing and in defence since his 2011 debut and impressed in all roles, but it’s the switch to right-back towards the end of last season that could well go on to define Florenzi’s career.

Although his versatility would be a welcome asset for any squad, the Italy international’s form as Roma’s No.2 is what has attracted interest from Arsenal, Spurs and Barcelona in recent weeks, especially after his goal against the European Champions earlier this season was nominated for the 2015 Puskas award. They view the 13-cap international as a natural successor to Dani Alves, sharing the Brazilian’s energy, guile and attacking menace on the overlap.

But Roma have a prestigious history of one-club men, the banner most recently being carried by Daniele De Rossi and Francesco Totti – who have spent their entire careers with Giallorossi despite the club winning just one Serie A title in the last 30 years. The Italian capital are optimistic Florenzi will follow the same path; it only takes one viewing of the 13-cap international to realise how emotionally tied he is to the Roma cause.

Speaking ahead of Roma’s Champions League clash with Barcelona yesterday evening, which they eventually lost 6-1, sporting director Walter Sabatini insisted that the club are not planning to sell Florenzo or fellow rumoured Barcelona target Miralem Pjanic anytime soon.

As quoted by Calcio Mercato, he told reporters; “We are proud to know that an important club like Barcelona is interested in our players, but both of them won’t move from here. We have a strong financial position and we don’t need money, we just want to improve our team every year and we’ll keep the best players with us.”

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