AS Roma wants €55 million for midfielder Manu Koné, nearly tripling the €18 million it paid for the French international just two years ago. The asking price, directed at Manchester United, says less about Koné’s talent and more about a club scrambling to balance its books under mounting regulatory pressure.
Roma’s financial situation has become genuinely uncomfortable. The club faces a €2 million UEFA fine plus an additional €6 million penalty for breaching squad cost ratio rules. Selling a high-value asset like Koné is the cleanest way to demonstrate fiscal discipline while actually generating revenue.
The Koné math
Roma bought Koné from Borussia Mönchengladbach in 2024 for €18 million. Two years and one standout World Cup later, the 25-year-old French international has an asking price north of €55 million.
Koné has been excellent for France at the ongoing 2026 tournament, and nothing inflates a footballer’s price tag quite like looking good on the biggest stage. Manchester United, perpetually in the market for midfield reinforcement, is reportedly exploring the deal as part of a broader squad overhaul.
