Journalist Monica Colombo has revealed her surprise that Manu Kone chose to join AS Roma over AC Milan, but also gave some of the back story on why the move never materialised.
During the closing stages of the 2024 summer transfer window the possibility emerged of selling Ismael Bennacer to a club abroad and using the proceeds to go and get Kone from Borussia Monchengladbach.
The French midfielder – who had just been part of a run to the final of the Olympic Games with his country – has long been a target for Milan. The Rossoneri tried to get him during his time at Toulouse three years ago, but Bennacer remains and Kone ended up at Roma.
Colombo is the director at Corriere della Sera and she spoke during an interview with Calciomercato.com about Kone’s late move to the Giallorossi, with her comments relayed by PianetaMilan.
“Milan have now closed their squad lists, with Bennacer staying. There is always the possibility of changing two before January, but I think that the real target in midfield was Manu Kone and that Rabiot was being used a bit to hide the other negotiation,” she said.
“I hope Roma, the Roman fans and their supporters don’t mind, but I’m surprised that between Milan and Roma he chose the Giallorossi instead of a more famous team, then obviously Bennacer did his part by not leaving and consequently it wasn’t possible to sink for Kone.”
I find it ridiculous when Milan asks about kone or lazar the clubs say xy price. When they actually make a move ( not to Milan) it’s a loan with option or obligation to buy. Why can’t our incompetent bunch get that deal?
And we buy some deadwood like Royal Emerson on a ridiculously high overprice and bind him to the club for years to come with no way out. We truly are run by idiots.
De Sciglio is a better rb than Royal
Hell no, De sciglio was utter rubbish thank goodness he was sold. Royal played one game give him a chance
Hey mds had his moments once upon a time
He played hundreds of games and he was bad in 95% of them.
Ofc mister igor one of the goldfish memory fans..
Can’t even remember why JUVE wanted mds in the first place..it definitely wasn’t because he was rubbish, I can tell you that.
Buddy, we’ve watched him play dozens of games in the epl, and he was just as useless…
The mode of their transfers and player priority gets me angry most times.
The only targeted transfer they made this season is Pavlovic and Fofana…. Samardzic was suppose to be a bargain buying just they left it and focus on a deadwood Royal that perhaps saelamakaers would have replaced well enough.
He chose Roma , cause he wants playing time
Cristante and Pellegrini have a lock in midfield so that just levaes one spot and 3 players for it. Kone, Le Fee and the kid Pisilli. Not really guaranteed gametime for Kone, like it would be if he stayed in germany. ofc roma has LE, M’gladbach doesnt
Christante has no Serie A quality. The fact that he plays, is a mystery. And maybe testament to how little quality Roma has at midfield.
Having said that, Kone would get more minutes there than at Milan.
I think he is good 🤷♂️
I have the same issue…why is it that we can’t seem to pull off these same last minute deals as some of the less fancied teams, no disrespect intended. What about our strategies leave us with egg on our face everytime we want a player the negotiations fizzles out because of price haggling and the player ends up at a lesser team…no disrespect intended to Roma.