Roma director Monchi confirmed the club were offered Daley Blind during the January transfer window, but turned down the chance to sign him.
Reports in the build up to Deadline Day suggested the versatile Dutchman was closed to a joining the Giallorossi.
CLAIM YOUR FREE £20 BET Sun Bets have this brilliant offer when you sign up and bet a fiver
And Monchi hinted they couldn’t afford the former Ajax man.
He said: “Blind was offered to us and he was evaluated from both a sporting and financial point of view.
“However, we decided not go get him. Let’s not forget the financial stand point — otherwise, we’d sign every player in the world.”
Monchi also declared himself satisfied with the deal to sell Emerson Palmieri to Chelsea for £17.5million.
PLAY DREAM TEAM WEEKENDER Pick seven players to win £5k!
PICK PIERRE-EMERICK AUBAMEYANG ON DREAM TEAM NOW Arsenal’s new boy is available at a bargain price!
The left-back has played just 16 minutes this term, as he recovered from a serious knee injury.
Monchi added: “When I arrived, I found a squad with a lot of quality and now I see them and think we are a physically, tactically and technically strong team.
“We sold a player to Chelsea for a lot of money, who played just one match for us.”
Roma also came close to losing Edin Dzeko in January, but the player rejected a move to Stamford Bridge at the 11th hour.