José Mourinho is aware Roma have no alternative to the sales of young players such as Benjamin Tahirovic and Cristian Volpato to increase the transfer budget and balance the books ahead of the summer window, reports Sky Sport Italia.
Ajax have secured the services of 20-year-old Tahirovic for circa €8m. The Bosnian midfielder made his senior debut under Mourinho in 2022-23 and was praised by the Special One during the last campaign.
He’s not the only promising Roma player leaving as both Volpato and Filippo Missori, 19, are expected to join Sassuolo.
Sky Sport’s Roma correspondent Paolo Assogna explained the club’s strategy during their transfer show on Tuesday afternoon.
“Young players who thrived under Mourinho are appreciated. Roma must make €30m capital gains by June 30 and this is the only possible way to do so,” the journalist explained.
“Roma made a choice: sacrifice the future and protect the present to have a team ‘ready’ which is Mourinho’s favourite condition.
“Of course, there’s a price to pay: the sale of young players who made their debuts under Mourinho. The coach knows there is no alternative.”
Roma have already secured two summer signings, getting Evan N’Dicka and Houssem Aouar as free agents from Eintracht Frankfurt and Lyon, respectively.
They’ve extended with Chris Smalling and Bryan Cristante and Stephan El Shaarawy is expected to do the same, signing a new two-year deal at the Stadio Olimpico.