Roma sporting director has moved to end speculation about Kostas Manolas’ future at the club after reiterating the defender will remain in the Eternal City.
Manolas came close to joining Zenit St Petersburg earlier this summer but a deal collapsed after the two parties failed to agree personal terms.
Chelsea, Juventus and Inter have all since been linked with a move for the 26-year-old but Monchi has categorically ruled out his departure and believes the Greece international will be at the club for years to come.
“Manolas will stay, and he’ll stay at Roma for a long time,” Football Italia quote Monchi as saying during Hector Moreno’s presentation. “If he intended to leave then he wouldn’t renew his contract, but that hasn’t happened and he’s happy to be here.”
The Greek centre-back has spent the last three seasons with Roma after joining from Olympiacos in 2014 and an even greater responsibility will be put on his shoulders in the wake of Antonio Rudiger’s departure to Chelsea.
In the last three Serie A campaigns only Danilo (108) has blocked more shots than Manolas (87).
