According to a report from Corriere dello Sport, Roma has turned down a €50 million bid from Chelsea for their standout goalkeeper, Mile Svilar.
The 26-year-old Serbian has made a significant impact since arriving on a free transfer from Benfica four years ago, securing his place as Roma’s primary goalkeeper and earning recognition as one of the top keepers in Serie A. Last season, he recorded the second-most clean sheets in the league, playing a vital role in helping the Giallorossi secure a Champions League spot on the last day of the campaign.
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Svilar’s impressive performances have drawn interest, particularly from Chelsea, who are looking for a dependable goalkeeper despite their recent acquisitions, including several in that position. Neither Filip Jørgensen nor Robert Sánchez has solidified their spot, prompting the club—under new management with Xabi Alonso—to potentially invest in a starting goalkeeper. Although Chelsea representatives reached out to Roma, the club firmly rejected their €50 million offer.
Roma is also motivated to make a move on Svilar, one of their key assets. They need to generate approximately €50 million to €60 million in capital gains to adhere to UEFA regulations before the end of June. Selling Svilar, who joined the club as a free agent, would help achieve this goal and might even eliminate the deficit entirely.
Svilar’s current contract with Roma, worth €4.36 million annually, runs until June 2030.
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Possible Departure for Svilar
While Roma would prefer to retain Svilar, their financial constraints make it a complicated situation.
Svilar has been building a reputation steadily over the past few years; his trajectory has been particularly notable since he infamously scored an own goal against José Mourinho’s Manchester United in the 2017/18 Champions League group stage while with Benfica. Just over five years later, he captured the Conference League title with Roma under Mourinho.
As time is ticking for Roma to comply with UEFA’s financial requirements for the upcoming season, moving Svilar may become a necessity. His absence from the World Cup could also facilitate a quicker transition.
— Anshuman Joshi | GIFN