Roma warns Man City over De Rossi

The remark has come from Roma sporting director Gabriele Sabatini who has been forced to clarify comments the club would listen to offers for 29-year-old Italy international De Rossi.

Sabatini has now claimed De Rossi is 'irreplaceable', although if there is one club who could afford the midfielder's services then it is the Premier League champion.

Sabatini said: "I never said De Rossi is not unsellable. I just made a general consideration regarding the whole of football.

"If a monstrous bid materialised we would evaluate it, but we are not looking for buyers for Daniele because he is a pillar of our team.

"For us he is a player of extraordinary importance and not replaceable, so it would be too difficult to do a deal even if there was an indecent proposal.

"We have not set a price for De Rossi. Fiorentina ask €30million (£23.5m) for (Stefan) Jovetic? The figure for Daniele is higher than that."