Alexis Saelemaekers has taken Roma by storm. In just a few months, the talented Belgian winger has won the trust of everyone at the club, from his teammates to manager Claudio Ranieri, and from the passionate Giallorossi fans to the Friedkin ownership group. His excellent performances on the pitch are a direct result of the enthusiasm he has shown for a fanbase that already adores him and wishes to see him wearing the Roma colours for years to come.
Calciomercato report how the 25-year-old right winger arrived in the Italian capital as part of a loan swap deal with English striker Tammy Abraham, with no option to buy included in the agreement. However, Roma has wasted no time in attempting to secure Saelemaekers’ services on a permanent basis.
The Giallorossi made an early move to initiate negotiations with AC Milan for a permanent acquisition of the former Anderlecht and Bologna player. The first official talks took place in the second half of June in Milan between the two clubs’ directors. However, these discussions led to an abrupt slowdown in proceedings.
Milan CEO Giorgio Furlani has made it clear that he is not interested in a straight swap deal involving Saelemaekers and Abraham, even with an additional cash sum in Roma’s favor – an option that had been proposed by Roma’s sporting director Florent Ghisolfi.
According to sources close to the situation, Milan would only consider selling Saelemaekers for an offer in the region of €25-30 million. Roma has been informed of this valuation, which presents a significant challenge for the capital club.
Adding another layer of complexity to the situation is the interest shown by Milan’s new coach, Sergio Conceição. The Portuguese manager has already expressed a very positive opinion of Saelemaekers and would be delighted to work with him next season.
For Roma to secure Saelemaekers permanently, it appears they will need to meet Milan’s substantial asking price. The Friedkins, Roma’s owners, are keen to keep the player who has quickly become a fan favorite at the Stadio Olimpico. However, they will need to weigh up the financial implications of such a significant investment.
As it stands, only a truly sizeable offer from an economic standpoint could justify Saelemaekers’ departure from Milan. Roma must now decide whether to meet the Rossoneri’s demands or accept that the Belgian international may be heading back to San Siro at the end of his loan spell.
