Saudi Pro League clubs are circling AS Roma’s Moroccan winger Neil El Aynaoui, with the Serie A side demanding €35 million to open talks, according to La Repubblica. The Italian outlet reports multiple suitors from the kingdom’s elite division have registered their interest, though neither their identities nor any formal proposals have emerged. Roma acquired El Aynaoui from RC Lens for approximately €25 million last summer on a five-year deal running through June 2030.
Saudi interest and Roma’s valuation
Which specific Saudi club—Al-Hilal, Al-Ittihad, or another—is driving the pursuit remains undisclosed. La Repubblica makes clear that no negotiations or contact with any interested party has yet materialized. The Moroccan international, who holds an Atlas Lion cap, has not signaled any desire to leave the capital, and Roma show no indication of actively pushing him out the door.
The €35 million asking price would deliver Roma an accounting gain of at least €15 million on his summer purchase, a significant uplift in just six months. That margin matters at the Stadio Olimpico, where financial constraints imposed by UEFA’s sustainability rules limit spending flexibility. Should a Saudi offer materialize and match the club’s demands, Roma could redirect fresh capital into other transfer targets before the window shuts.
How El Aynaoui’s sale could reshape Roma’s market room
Roma’s tight UEFA compliance position means every outgoing fee unlocks potential incomings. El Aynaoui’s potential departure would not represent a forced fire-sale but rather a commercially rational opportunity: a player acquired eight months ago could generate immediate reinvestment capital without weakening the squad’s immediate depth, provided Roma act swiftly in the market. The club faces a balancing act between maximizing revenue and avoiding the appearance of instability. A €35 million windfall would ease that tension considerably during what could be a critical fortnight in the transfer cycle.
No deadline pressure applies yet. The situation remains fluid, contingent on a Saudi club tabling a formal bid that satisfies Roma’s valuation. Until then, El Aynaoui continues his Serie A campaign unaffected by speculation.
