Said El Mala to AS Roma
Quiet since 25 July 2026. Last report: Patrick Berger. Probability when it went quiet: 2%.
As Roma wanted to sign Said El Mala, the 19-year-old Köln attacker, and Köln were kept informed of the Italian club's interest. That is as far as it went. El Mala himself said no, telling those around him he does not picture his next step in Serie A. This is a player-side rejection rather than a fee dispute, and Köln hold every card in any case: his contract runs to 30 June 2030, so there is no pressure on them to sell at all. The figures floated sit between €53m and €75m, comfortably above his roughly €46m valuation, yet the money is not the obstacle here. The reporting comes from Patrick Berger, a solid and well-regarded voice, citing Sky's information. That is one credible line rather than a chorus, and crucially it reports the interest and the knock-back in the same breath. So the sourcing is reliable, but it is confirming a door closing, not one opening. Realistically this is a long shot. For Roma to revive it, El Mala would need to change his mind and Köln would need a reason to cash in on a teenager tied down for four more years. Neither looks likely right now. A rival link to Borussia Dortmund reads as the stronger of the two moves on the table, and even that is far from settled. Worth noting how modestly Köln have sold before: to Benfica for €17m in 2026, to Arsenal for €15m in 2012, to Hertha BSC for €15m in 2020. A €53m, €75m sale would dwarf all of them. Watch for any softening in El Mala's stance, or a firm Dortmund push.
Who reported it
- Patrick Berger, 25 July 2026: 🐺🟡🔴 Die AS Roma wollte Said El Mala (19/🇩🇪) verpflichten. Köln war über das Interesse aus Italien informiert. El Mala sagte nach Sky Infos aber am Donnerstagabend ab, sieht se