The Switzerland international looked set to join Serie A this summer but the transfer eventually collapsed.
Roma director Tiago Pinto insists the club’s inability to sign Granit Xhaka is his “regret for this transfer market” while also revealing that the move was blocked by Arsenal.
Roma made good efforts to refresh their squad in the summer market after appointing Jose Mourinho as the head coach.
The Serie A side signed a new goalkeeper – Rui Patricio – three new defenders – Bryan Reynolds, Roger Ibanez, and Matias Vina – and two new forwards – Eldor Shomurodov and Tammy Abraham and sold more than half-a-dozen of their players while loaned out about half-a-dozen more.
However, they were unable to bring in a midfielder despite being heavily linked with Xhaka. At one point, it had appeared as if the player was destined to move to Stadio Olimpico, but the move never materialized and he eventually committed his long-term future to Arsenal.
“The market is closed and today I have fun, because we bought so many players but everyone asks me about the midfielder,” Pinto told reporters, as Goal reports.
“Everyone knows we were after Xhaka, he wanted to come to Roma, but Arsenal didn’t release him. It’s my regret for this transfer market.”
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