Kevin Danso released a statement after he failed the institutional medical in Italy, which he describes as ‘highly perplexing and completely incomprehensible,’ scuppering his Roma transfer.
The deal was done for the move from RC Lens on loan with obligation to buy in a package worth a total €25m.
However, problems arose during the institutional medical with the CONI, who found certain irregularities that required further examination.
Danso spent the night at a hotel in Rome and flew back to France this morning, releasing a statement on Instagram Stories.
“I am disappointed and upset about the events of the past few days and the failed transfer to AS Roma.
“Above all, I am very surprised by the supposed reason for the collapsed transfer. Both the doctors of the Austrian Football Association (ÖFB) and the medical department of RC Lens have closely monitored me and regularly examined me over the past years.
“Most recently, I was thoroughly assessed at the start of pre-season training in Lens and no irregularities were ever found.
“Therefore, the interpretations of the medical check in Rome are highly perplexing and completely incomprehensible to my team and I.
“I will now discuss my situation with the responsible parties at Lens and at the ÖFB and focus on the tasks ahead.”
Why Danso was not cleared to play in Italy
All the Italian reports have made clear that Danso failed the institutional medical in Italy and not the one performed by Roma, so they had no control over that.
The CONI (Italian Olympic Committee) must give the all-clear for any professional athlete to participate in sport, performing a series of stress tests and ECG exams.
These highlighted an irregularity with Danso, but while usually this would simply require further testing to investigate the potential cause, today is deadline day and Roma did not have time to wait around for a player who might not be cleared to work in Serie A.
So it is entirely possible this was just a minor blip on the tests, but the Giallorossi did not have the time to take such a big risk on a player at a cost of €25m.
Kevin Danso statement
