Roma sporting director Tiago Pinto offered his assessment of the clubs transfer window, saying Renato Sanches is a player he is obsessed with. The Giallorossi were among the most active clubs in the summer transfer window, signing the likes of Sanches, Houssem Aouar, Evan N’dicka and Leandro Paredes. Speaking in a press conference earlier today, Pinto talked about how the clubs policy in transfer dealings has shifted since the arrival of Jose Mourinho, with more focus going on the Giallorossi youth setup:
“When a transfer window begins, you have to put together three different plans. A technical one, which is the easiest to understand. We all intend to make a better team than last season. If we compare who left and who arrived, in my opinion the team has improved, we have more solutions and alternatives.”
“Then there is the economic side. This is nothing new for anyone, there is a settlement agreement so we have to spend 70 per cent of everyone’s revenue on the team. While the various sports directors were on holiday, I looked for economic agreements to maintain this plan. Finally, there is the strategic plan. To get out of this situation with financial fair play it is important to take young players, with future prospects, in order to have sporting and economic results. With the stakes we have, we are trying to balance these three plans. It’s not so easy.
“Since the arrival of José Mourinho the youth sector has been one of the main parts of our strategy, it has given us the opportunity to bring youngsters to the first team. Today we have players like Zalewski and Bove who are ready, plus others who work together every day. It is true that we have increased the wage bill, but we have managed to put the three plans together.”
“It will be impossible to come out of this conference with a feeling of a clash between me and Mourinho. We speak the same language and say things to each other’s faces. We are motivated and charged up for the best of the team. Champions League? From the first day I signed the contract I understood that the big ambition of the ownership is to get to the Champions League. It’s my ambition too, it’s logical.”
“Renato Sanches. “For everything that happens with him, there is only one person responsible. I am obsessed with that player. At Benfica I wanted to get him, at Roma too, and I didn’t succeed until this year.”
“Matic leaving? I didn’t expect it, the last two weeks here I didn’t expect it. You take the negative side, I take the positive and that is that we got Paredes, a world champion. I don’t want to lose energy, he doesn’t deserve any more words.”
