Roma’s Ranieri Discloses Ambition to Secure Kolo Muani in January, but Budget Constraints Held Him Back

Roma faced restrictions on their spending during the recent transfer window due to their wage commitments, according to manager Claudio Ranieri. He expressed his desire to sign French forward Randal Kolo Muani, who ultimately moved to Juventus.

Ranieri, who is the club’s third manager this season after the dismissals of Daniele De Rossi and Ivan Juric, took the reins in November and has led his team to an unbeaten streak of seven league matches.

Before assuming management, Ranieri had commented on the substantial investments made by Roma’s owners, the Friedkin Group, spearheaded by club president Dan Friedkin, since their takeover in 2020.

“What I’ve stated about the Friedkins holds true. They’ve invested a significant amount of money, and while opinions may vary on whether their spending was wise or not, the fact remains they’ve put their money where their mouth is,” Ranieri stated at a press conference ahead of Sunday’s match against Venezia.

“I don’t want to make excuses; I’m just stating the facts. They have invested over a billion, and are planning to invest another billion on the new stadium.”

“We are aware of the Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations. This encompasses all salaries at Roma, not merely the players’. We must find ways to boost revenue while reducing costs.”

Ranieri recognises the steps needed to improve the club’s financial standing but acknowledges that it is a gradual process.

“Our aim should be to progress further in European competitions to increase our income. There are numerous factors that can be assessed for potential revenue,” he explained.

“There’s a saying in English that resonates with us Romans, ‘Rome wasn’t built in a day’; it took centuries. I hope we can achieve our goals in a shorter timeframe, but that’s the reality.”

Despite some fresh faces joining Roma in the January window, there were no headline signings, as Kolo Muani opted for a loan move to Juventus from Paris St Germain.

“Both the President and I wanted Kolo Muani, but we came to realise it wasn’t feasible. It’s easy to discuss possibilities,” Ranieri remarked.

“They could potentially invest in a player for 30, 40, or even 50 million, but then there are salary considerations. To manage that, we must lower our wage bill.”

“Let’s give the owners the time they deserve to execute their vision.”