Kostas Manolas reveals he almost left Roma, but would be hard to prise away now, and believes they could’ve won the Champions League.
The game with SPAL kicks off at 14.00 UK time (13.00 GMT), click here for a match preview.
“I renewed my contract and I think I deserved it. I could’ve left two or three times last season, but I didn’t do it and I had my best campaign here,” the Greek defender told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
Kostas Manolas reveals he almost left Roma, but would be hard to prise away now, and believes they could’ve won the Champions League.
The game with SPAL kicks off at 14.00 UK time (13.00 GMT), click here for a match preview.
“I renewed my contract and I think I deserved it. I could’ve left two or three times last season, but I didn’t do it and I had my best campaign here,” the Greek defender told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
He still has a €36m release clause in the deal, but insists it takes more than that to convince him to leave.
“I’ve never been asked to remove the clause. In any case, I don’t think the clause is that low. Football prices have gone through the roof and beyond normality, so if Roma consider it inadequate as a sum, they can call me to discuss it.
“I had been very close to Zenit St Petersburg, but I saw the figures were all in Rubles. I asked them to change it to Dollars and they refused. When they changed their minds days later, I’d already made my decision. It was destiny.”
Manolas was asked if he could remain at Roma for the rest of his career.
“If a club like Real Madrid or Barcelona were to come along, apart from Francesco Totti who turned them down, I think everyone would think about it. We’d then have to evaluate the conditions, because I can assure you that it’s not easy for anyone to leave Roma.
“Totti was fundamental in convincing me to stay. I spoke to him more than I did (director of sport) Monchi.
“I don’t feel like a leader and I am not the captain. It doesn’t matter that I’ve been here for many years. We are all the same in the locker room. Now talented young players have arrived and they need our help. All I can pledge is that I’ll give my all.”
Manolas scored to complete the legendary ‘Romantada’ comeback to eliminate Barcelona from the Champions League with a 3-0 victory at the Olimpico, having lost 4-1 in the first leg, but they went out in the semi-final to Liverpool.
“If we’d been able to reach the Final, who knows what might’ve happened? If we were having a night like the one against Barcelona, we could’ve beaten anyone to lift that trophy.
“I’ve been here five years and not won anything yet. This team needs to win. Juventus are still stronger and the truth is that it’s tough to win the Scudetto, but nothing is impossible. We can slowly build a winning mentality.
“I can’t wait to face Cristiano Ronaldo, because I love a challenge. The only forward who ever frightened me was Zlatan Ibrahimovic. I was powerless against him.”