Roma Missed Chance to Sign Ziyech, Reveals Ex-Captain Benatia

"I had tried to bring him [Hakim Ziyech] to Roma, and he would have run to join that club. I spoke to Francesco Totti and Edin Dzeko, telling them that he was the man they needed. As a symbol of the club, Francesco did everything he could to conclude the deal, but Pallotta said it would be ’an excessive expense’ and nothing ever came of it," said Mehdi Benatia in an interview with the Sportweek magazine of La Gazzetta dello Sport.

Hakim Ziyech remained in his club where he performed well after this failed transfer. Offers from European clubs who wanted to have him on their roster have since poured in. The Atlas Lion finally set his sights on Chelsea.