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Roma

Monchi: Alisson will only leave Roma if I come out of retirement!

Monchi insisted Roma goalkeeper and Brazil international Alisson will not be sold during the off-season.

Update:
Monchi: Alisson will only leave Roma if I come out of retirement!
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Monchi said Alisson will only leave Roma if he comes out of retirement as the sporting director reiterated the club's stance not to sell the star goalkeeper.

49-year-old goalkeeper or Alisson transfer

Alisson enjoyed a stellar season for Roma, the Brazil international helping the Italian side to the Champions League semi-finals.

The 25-year-old's exploits have not gone unnoticed with Liverpool, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain among the reported suitors.

However, Monchi – a former goalkeeper at LaLiga outfit Sevilla where he spent nine seasons during the 1990s – insisted Alisson is not for sale.

Speaking as he received his forward for the best sporting director of the season in Serie A, the 49-year-old said:

"Alisson? If he leaves, it's just because I've gone back to being a goalkeeper!

"This is the only way he'll leave, but I don't know if I'm ready to play again."

Roma to build, not dismantle

Alisson made 37 league appearances – conceding just 28 goals – as Roma finished third in Serie A.

Roma team-mate Edin Dzeko also starred for the capital club with 16 Serie A goals in 2017-18.

Dzeko, who was close to joining Premier League side Chelsea in January, scored 24 goals in all competitions.

"He'll stay with us," Monchi said. "I expect him to have a similar next season to this one. We all want him to stay."

Mochi also revealed Roma will hold contract talks with head coach Eusebio Di Francesco and full-back Alessandro Florenzi, who has emerged as a target for rivals Inter.