Reports claim Nicolò Zaniolo is refusing to train with his Roma teammates amid Juventus speculation, while Justin Kluivert and Carles Perez are also pushing for the exit.
The Giallorossi flew out this morning to begin their pre-season training camp in Portugal and coach Jose Mourinho already complaining to the Corriere dello Sport that he is “frustrated” at the transfer campaign so far.
Now multiple sources including La Repubblica and Calciomercato.com claim that Zaniolo did not train with the rest of the squad this morning and it was not because of injury.
They are reporting he asked to be excluded and did not really want to go with Roma to the Algarve either, as he is pushing for a transfer to Juventus.
Sources tell Football Italia that Juventus are not prepared to pay the €50m asking price in cash, so will try to use Arthur Melo or Denis Zakaria as part of a player exchange to lower the cost.
It would also be an option or obligation to buy, therefore stretching out the operation over two or more seasons, similar to Federico Chiesa from Fiorentina.
The Giallorossi are due to play a friendly against Sunderland tomorrow and it remains to be seen whether Zaniolo will feature.
He’s far from the only unhappy figure, because Carles Perez is also eager to walk away and Il Tempo maintain he has requested a transfer, which so far Mourinho is blocking due to a lack of alternatives.
Meanwhile, Kluivert did not travel with the group to Portugal, partly due to injury, but also because he is on the market after a loan spell at OGC Nice.
Olympique Marseille were linked, but he is now a target for West Ham United and the asking price is €12m.