Matias Soule has revealed why he turned down a move to Leicester City in favour of joining AS Roma during the summer transfer window.
Leicester, fresh off their Championship triumph, had ambitious plans to bolster their squad ahead of a return to the Premier League.
However, things didn’t go as expected, with the club facing setbacks, including the departure of their manager and player of the season.
Steve Cooper was brought in to stabilise the situation and prepare the team for top-flight football. Yet, despite their best efforts, some key transfer targets slipped through their fingers, with Soule being one of the most notable.
The young Argentine was strongly linked with a move from Juventus to Leicester City, but ultimately chose to sign for Roma instead.
Late last month, Leicester officially lost out on Soule, as the 21-year-old completed a £23.9 million transfer to the Italian capital.
Speaking to Corriere dello Sport, Soule provided insight into the factors behind his decision, including how far talks had progressed with Leicester’s management and head coach.
“Leicester wanted me so much, both the coach and the sporting director called me to convince me of their project,” Soule acknowledged.
However, he ultimately decided against the move, explaining, “But then I felt the affection of [Daniele] De Rossi, of Roma, of the teammates who contacted me, and I decided from that moment to say no to all the other clubs and to think only of Roma for all these reasons plus one.”
It seems that Leicester were always playing catch-up, as Roma’s Argentine contingent began working on Soule long before formal discussions with the Premier League club took place.
Soule elaborated on the influence Roma had on his decision: “They [Roma] are a spectacle, and I’m not just saying that. Last season Paulo [Dybala] and Leo [Paredes] invited me to the [Stadio] Olimpico to watch the Europa League match against Feyenoord. I went in, I heard 70,000 people singing from the anthem until the end of the match.
“Once I came out, I told my brother that I had never seen such passionate fans. An incredible emotion, thrilling. Honestly, I had already thought of Roma, when I still didn’t even know if I would continue at Juventus.”
Following the disappointment of missing out on Soule, Steve Cooper has shifted focus to other targets. Reports suggest that the club is now close to securing a loan deal for Brighton’s promising attacking midfielder Facundo Buonanotte, as they continue to strengthen their squad ahead of the new season.