Chelsea winger Hakim Ziyech was desperate to join Roma before he signed for the English club.

Morocco team-mate Medhi Benatia has recently stated that Ziyech had eyes for the Italian capital club.

The creative attacker left Ajax in 2019, after several outstanding seasons at the Dutch club.

Benatia, who is now retired, told La Gazzetta dello Sport: “I had tried to get him to come to Roma, and he would have run to join this club.

“I spoke to Francesco Totti and Edin Dzeko, telling them that this is the man they want.

"As a director, Francesco did everything he could to get the deal concluded, but Pallotta said it would be 'an excessive expense' and nothing ever came of it."