When Walter Sabatini, Roma’s director of football, plans a trip, even within Italy, it normally causes quite a fuss in the Italian media, so you can imagine how excited they got when they found out he’s travelling to England.
One of the big deals he is allegedly trying to wrap up is the transfer of Manchester City’s Pablo Zabaleta to Rome, and that’s well on its way.
The Serie A side are keen on keeping the Polish goalkeeper a bit longer after a good season last year, and another loan is to be expected.
The reason behind this is the fact the player isn’t ready to cut ties with the club he’s grown up in, but also because Arsenal are allegedly asking for €18m (£14.8m) if anyone wants to make the deal a permanent one.
Having paid two thirds of the player’s wages last season during the loan, Arsenal are this time asking Roma to pay Szczesny’s wages in full, as well as a small fee for the deal itself.
Sabatini is said to be hoping to sort this out calmly, and probably find some kind of middle ground where everyone is happy.
After all, there is currently no place at Arsenal for the Poland international at this moment in time.
