Roma out to keep De Rossi

Roma co-owner James Pallotta has stressed that the Serie A club will do their utmost to keep vice-captain Daniele De Rossi at the club.

The Italy international midfielder’s contract at Roma expires at the end of the 2011/12 campaign, and he has been linked with the likes of Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City.

But Roma have not given up hopes of holding on to the influential midfielder and will ‘push hard’ to extend De Rossi’s stay at the Stadio Olimpico.

“When you talk with (Francesco) Totti and De Rossi, even though it was only briefly, you realise how classy they are,” Pallotta told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

“They represent Roma very well, which is why we want to keep them for a long time. They are Roma, in my opinion, and we will push hard to keep De Rossi at the club, too.”

The 28-year-old midfielder made his first-team debut at Roma in October 2001, and has since made over 350 appearances for the club.

He has made 17 Serie A appearances this season, scoring twice.