Former Barcelona and Milan Star Mulls Roma Transfer | OneFootball

Franck Kessié is contemplating moving back to Serie A and wouldn’t mind reuniting with his mentor Gian Piero Gasperini at Roma. The deal wouldn’t be easy considering his €12M salary, but the Giallorossi will try, Mediaset informs.

After departing Milan, the midfielder spent a year at Barcelona and then transferred to Al-Ahli in 2023. He has recorded 14 goals and 9 assists in 77 matches in Saudi Arabia, contributing to the AFC Champions League Elite triumph last season. He has 81 caps with the Ivory Coast to his name.

Kessié was already close to Roma eight years ago when he left Atalanta. Though, he picked the Rossoneri instead at the 11th hour after the deal between clubs had been sealed.

The 28-year-old isn’t the only option on the Giallorossi’s radar to address the midfied. Olympique Marseille are interested in Evan N’Dicka, who might be sacrificed at the altar of the Financial Fair Play. A swap with Ismael Koné could be in the cards, but the two players have vastly different valuations. New exec Frederic Massara is familiar with him since he spent six months on loan at Rennes last season. He had his best years at Watford in the Championship and with Montréal in the MLS.

Our Take on Roma and Kessié

Only a small number of players have come back from Saudi Arabia, and Serie A has yet to be able to lure one. He’d have to take a massive pay cut. He and Manu Koné would find a way to make it work if it came to be, but the ideal piece to lift the capital club’s midfield would be somebody with strong distribution skills, but also grit and stamina.