ROME, ITALY - JUNE 04: Paulo Dybala of AS Roma acknowledges fans following their sides victory after the Serie A match between AS Roma and Spezia Calcio at Stadio Olimpico on June 04, 2023 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)
Leeds United pair on cusp of unexpected £13.5 million bonus but face agonising wait following rival’s success
Due to the performance of Italian clubs in European competition this season, the country’s standing in UEFA co-efficient rankings has been given a major boost, permitting six teams to enter the 2024/25 Champions League at the group stage. It could be first time six teams from one nation has competed in Europe’s premium club competition during the same season.
Serie A teams still have one or two league matches remaining this season but Roma are in pole position to claim the sixth Champions League spot following Atalanta’s UEFA Europa League triumph over Bayer Leverkusen and are guaranteed to finish sixth in the table. Italy already have five Champions League places next season due to the league’s performance, however if Atalanta finish third or fourth, Roma will be placed in next season’s Europa League.
Currently, the Bergamo club are two points behind Bologna and Juventus in third and fourth place, respectively, but they do have a game in hand, versus Fiorentina, whose participation in the Coppa Italia final has meant the game is scheduled for June 2, a week after the end of the Serie A campaign for the 18 other clubs. This has left Roma in limbo waiting to discover if they will qualify for the Champions League or not.
Qualification for the Champions League group stage is worth a minimum of £13.5 million to each participating club, which would be something of an unexpected bonus given Roma’s sixth place standing. It may also allow them to explore the possibility of signing players for whom their 2024/25 budget did not previously stretch.
Neither Leeds loanee is guaranteed to remain at Stadio Olimpico next season, however Llorente in particular is most likely to be signed permanently by the Italian side, for a sum in the region of £5 million, as per the purchase terms in his loan agreement.
Leeds are likely to command a higher fee for Danish international Kristensen, whose Elland Road contract runs until 2027 and was signed for approximately £10 million.
