AC Milan defender Alessio Romagnoli has reportedly turned down the opportunity to sign for newly-promoted Premier League club Fulham.
According to a report by Italian outlet Il Messaggero, as relayed by Tutto Juve, Alessio Romagnoli has decided against joining newly-promoted side Fulham, rejecting their €4 million-a-year contract offer. The 27-year-old defender is instead focussing on joining another Serie A club, with Juventus and Lazio said to be interested.
Romagnoli is an AS Roma youth product and rose through the ranks at the Serie A club to make a first-team debut for them in the 2012/13 season. He made a total of 14 appearances for the Giallorossi before he was sent to Sampdoria on loan in 2014.
The centre-back impressed for Sampdoria, making 31 appearances for them across competitions before AC Milan came calling. The Rossoneri got Romagnoli on board in the 2015 summer transfer window and he straightaway slotted in the centre of defence for them.
The 27-year-old was Milan’s first-choice right-back until the 2019/20 season, following which he fell down the pecking order and is now nearing an exit. Romagnoli’s contract with the Serie A champions runs down today, and he will be free to join any other club on a Bosman move.
Fulham, who recently gained promotion to the Premier League, were seriously interested in the defender and had stepped up their effort to sign him recently. They even submitted a contract offer for the 27-year-old, but the defender seems to be intent on staying in Italy.
The report states the Cottagers offered him a contract offer worth €4 million per year, which he turned down. Romagnoli is being monitored by Serie A giants Lazio and Juventus, and he is said to be keen on joining the former. Meanwhile, Fulham will now be left to look for other central defensive options.
The Londoners are short-staffed in the centre-back department and are eager to add reinforcements. Marco Silva currently has Tosin Adarabioyo, Terence Kongolo and Tim Ream as his three centre-back options and wants to add at least one defender ahead of the new season. Romagnoli would have been a great choice for Fulham due to his leadership qualities and experience of playing at the highest level.
