Humiliation for Leeds reject, with new club chopping him from squad list already after summer loan
Rasmus Kristensen in action for Roma
Leeds United loanee Rasmus Kristensen looks set to be dropped by AS Roma when the Serie A side submit their Europa League squad list today, according to reports.
Kristensen left Leeds after just one season this summer, earning a loan move to Roma after suffering relegation from the Premier League. However, it has not been an easy start to his spell in Serie A.
Now, according to Il Corriere Dello Sport, Roma are ready to omit the Leeds-owned defender from their squad list for the Europa League group stage, which they have to submit by the end of the day.
Due to restrictions imposed on the club by UEFA after a Financial Fair Play settlement, Roma are only allowed to register five of their seven new signings from this summer’s transfer window in their Europa League squad.
And it is believed that Kristensen will be one of the unlucky two who miss the cut – along with striker Sardar Azmoun, who arrived on loan from Bayer Leverkusen before Roma’s deal for Romelu Lukaku from Chelsea – because they are perceived as not being as valuable to the team already.
What the implications will be for Kristensen’s gametime in Serie A remains to be seen. He started Roma’s first two league matches of the season but completed neither, and was an unused substitute against AC Milan most recently.
Competition causing Kristensen omission
Jose Mourinho can also use Zeki Celik and Rick Karsdorp at right-back for Roma. Both players were linked with exits this summer, but have stayed put. It will be up to them to represent Roma in the Europa League over the next few months and not Kristensen.
Leeds still have the Denmark international under contract until 2027. There is no option to buy in Roma’s loan deal for Kristensen, so unless he suddenly becomes more important in the Italian capital, he could be back at Elland Road in the future.
In the meantime, Leeds have signed Djed Spence on loan from Tottenham Hotspur to compete with Luke Ayling for a place at right-back this season.
