AS Roma want Lionel Messi as apology from Barcelona

AS Roma are totally upset over the loss of Brazilian winger Malcom as his transfer to Roma was hijacked by FC Barcelona. AS Roma president James Pallotta said he would only accept the Spanish giants' apology if they give them their superstar, Lionel Messi. AS Roma had reached an agreement with French club Bordeaux for the transfer of Malcom and had announced the arrival of the player in Rome for the signing of the deal. They were left stunned as Bordeaux rather accepted Barcelona's offer. Malcom signed with the Catalans less than 48 hours after Bordeaux announced their agreement with Roma over Malcom's sale.

Roma president Palotta had a lot to say on the subject in an interview with Sirus XM.

"In terms of Barcelona, it looks like a pattern for them over the last few years of doing things that just should not be done at a club with the reputation that Barcelona intends to have," Pallotta said, as quoted by his club's website.

"In fact, they apologized for their actions and how they went about things. I don't accept the apology.

"The only way I'll accept it is on either one of two conditions: one, they give the player to us. That's obviously not going to happen.

"Two, maybe as a goodwill gesture at the very least they could send us Messi!

"I think in this case the player wanted to come to us. I think a lot of clubs were interested in him but did not want to bother him because maybe they did not think they had a shot at him in terms of the timing.

"We had a guy over there talking with the player in person. The deal was done.

"I have zero problem battling it out for a player with another big club, if we are all going through the same process trying to get him. That's the way it works. 

"But, at the end of the day, when the deal is done and completely agreed… we all know how it works, the kid comes in for a medical and then it is signed. 

"Other teams know not to come in and do what Barcelona did. Bordeaux should never have done what they did – the legal side will come later, but it is immoral and unethical too."

(photo credit pic 1: Sport Bible)

(photo credit pic 2: The Indian Express)