Manu Kone was linked with a move to Chelsea on transfer deadline day after Enzo Fernandez joined Manchester City in a British record-equalling £125million deal
Manu Kone of AS Roma during the Serie A match between AS Roma and ACF Fiorentina at Stadio Olimpico on August 24, 2026 in Rome, Italy
Manu Kone was linked with a move to Chelsea(Image: Photo by Fabio Rossi/AS Roma via Getty Images)
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Roma coach Gian Piero Gasperini shut down the suggestion that he blocked Manu Kone's move to Chelsea by insisting a bid was never made for the midfielder. It was claimed on deadline day that Chelsea were pushing to sign Kone as a replacement for Enzo Fernandez.
The Argentine moved to Manchester City to reunite with Enzo Maresca in a British record-equalling £125million deal. However, Chelsea were unable to strike an agreement with Roma because Gasperini reportedly blocked the deal.
But when that suggestion was put to the Roma boss by Gazzetta dello Sport, he replied: “Oh no, that’s a credit they’ve unfairly attributed to me.
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“Until the Lecce match, I hadn’t heard anything about Koné; after that, there wouldn’t have been time for negotiations. And anyway, we never received an official offer.”
Speaking after the game with Lecce, Gasperini reiterated that Roma would not sell their best players, especially given the club had reached a settlement agreement with UEFA and received a fine from the European football governing body in June for failing to meet its financial requirements.
However, things never played out as hoped for the 68-year-old, who revealed his side made failed attempts to sign Mason Greenwood and Crysencio Summerville.
“In June, I thought we had solved our problems with the money from Champions League qualification,” Gasperini said.
“When we tried to sign Greenwood and Summerville, I realised that wasn’t the case. The summer was torture: constantly reviewing market ideas and having to give up on players who were enthusiastic about coming to Roma due to wage-bill restrictions.
“The ownership did everything possible within the financial constraints. And anyway, my regret has been compensated.
“By the desire to stay of a group of players, young and old, who took pay cuts and put their love for the shirt and the club above everything else: (Paulo) Dybala, (Mario) Hermoso, (Gianluca) Mancini, (Bryan) Cristante, (Lorenzo) Pellegrini, (Emanuele) Lulli.
"This spirit is our strength. It doesn’t happen everywhere.”