According to Gianluca Di Marzio of Sky Italia, reported by Morocco World News, AS Roma are in the final stages of negotiations to send defender Anass Salah‑Eddine to Panathinaikos. The Greek club is said to have secured a loan deal that includes an option to purchase the player permanently.
Player profile and career trajectory
Anass Salah‑Eddine, born in 2002, is a 24‑year‑old left‑back who progressed through the Roma youth academy before making his senior debut in the 2022‑23 season. He signed his first professional contract with Roma in 2022, which runs until the summer of 2026. Although he has yet to command a transfer fee—having moved from the academy to the senior squad on a free—his market value has risen steadily. Transfermarkt lists his peak valuation at €9.5 million in 2023, with a current estimate of around €7 million.
Rumour details and source attribution
The consensus across several outlets, including Business Upturn and AfricaSoccer.com, is that the move is “advanced” or “close to being finalised.” A Yahoo Sports report specifically notes that “Roma send Salah‑Eddine to Panathinaikos with option to buy.” The wording suggests a loan arrangement rather than an outright sale, and no concrete fee has been disclosed.
"Roma send Salah‑Eddine to Panathinaikos with option to buy" – sports.yahoo.com
Other sources such as Tribuna.com and koorabreak.com echo the same narrative, describing the Greek side as “closing in” on the defender. While the phrasing varies—"near to exit", "set to leave", "done deal"—the underlying fact remains that the two clubs are negotiating terms, with the option to make the move permanent if Panathinaikos are satisfied with his performances.
Financial perspective
Given that no transfer fee has been announced, the financial assessment must rely on market valuation. A €7 million valuation for a 24‑year‑old left‑back with Serie A experience is modest, especially when compared to his peak. If Panathinaikos were to trigger the purchase option, a fee in the €5‑7 million range would represent a slight discount to his current market value, making the deal financially prudent for both clubs. Roma would benefit from offloading a player who is not a regular starter while retaining a sell‑on clause, whereas Panathinaikos would acquire a promising defender at a bargain relative to his potential ceiling.
From a sporting standpoint, the move could be advantageous for Salah‑Eddine. Panathinaikos regularly competes in European qualifiers, offering him a platform to showcase his abilities and potentially reignite interest from larger clubs. For Roma, the loan‑with‑option structure frees up a squad spot and reduces wage commitments, aligning with their strategy of developing young talent through regular playing time elsewhere.
Reliability: 4/5The rumour is backed by multiple independent sources, most notably Gianluca Di Marzio (Sky Italia) and several reputable news aggregators. While the exact financial terms remain undisclosed, the consistent reporting of “advanced talks” and the inclusion of an option‑to‑buy clause lend the story a high degree of credibility.
