Olympiacos may have an agreement with Roma—but Salah-Eddine has become the decisive obstacle

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Thrylos 7 International

·31 juillet 2026

Olympiacos may have an agreement with Roma—but Salah-Eddine has become the decisive obstacle

For several hours, Anass Salah-Eddine appeared to be moving steadily toward Olympiacos.

Greek reports said the player had accepted the project. Italian reporting described an agreement with Roma around €7 million plus bonuses. The sequence appeared logical: personal approval, club agreement, travel, medical and announcement.

Vidéos OneFootball

Dutch outlet VoetbalPrimeur, however, says it spoke directly with Salah-Eddine’s camp, which stated that the defender currently sees no appeal in a move to Olympiacos. The representatives acknowledged the Greek club’s interest but indicated that the player intends to wait while other opportunities develop.

The transfer should therefore no longer be described as awaiting only paperwork.

Why this changes the assessment

Earlier reports relied largely on club-side negotiations and intermediaries.

VoetbalPrimeur’s update is more consequential because it claims direct contact with Salah-Eddine’s representatives. According to them, there is no personal agreement and no present willingness to join Olympiacos.

That does not automatically prove that earlier reporting was false.

Several explanations remain possible:

Roma and Olympiacos may indeed have reached an economic understanding.
An intermediary may have indicated that personal terms were broadly acceptable without the player giving final approval.
Salah-Eddine’s camp may be applying pressure to attract or improve alternative offers.
The player may be willing to reconsider later but is currently prioritising another league or project.

The Titraoui lesson has repeated itself

Olympiacos have now encountered the same structural problem in two significant negotiations.

With Yacine Titraoui, the club reportedly satisfied Charleroi but could not immediately secure the player’s approval.

With Salah-Eddine, Olympiacos may again have found acceptable economic terms with the selling club while the player evaluates alternatives.

This does not necessarily indicate a weakness in recruitment. Ambitious young players frequently prioritise particular leagues, salaries or career pathways. But it does emphasise the importance of establishing genuine player commitment before spending extensive time negotiating the transfer fee.

Olympiacos must determine whether Salah-Eddine’s position is:

Each scenario requires a different response.

Why Salah-Eddine may prefer to wait

Salah-Eddine is 24, recently played regularly for PSV and appeared at the 2026 World Cup with Morocco.

That profile gives him leverage.

A player with recent Champions League, international and Eredivisie exposure may believe he can secure a move to a more prominent European league. Remaining patient may produce interest from the Netherlands, Germany, France or elsewhere, even if Roma would prefer an immediate sale.

From his perspective, Olympiacos offer:

But another club may offer a league he considers a more direct platform toward his long-term ambitions.

The decision is therefore not necessarily about rejecting Olympiacos’ level. It may be about waiting for a different geographical or career route.

Olympiacos should avoid turning persuasion into overpayment

The worst response would be to increase the salary or transfer package repeatedly without clarity that the player genuinely wants the move.

Salah-Eddine would be expected to replace Francisco Ortega, adapt quickly to José Luis Mendilibar’s pressing system and carry the expectations attached to a €7–8 million investment.

That requires commitment.

A reluctant signing creates risk beyond morale. It can affect:

Olympiacos can attempt to change his mind by clarifying his role, European ambitions and development pathway. They should not distort the wage structure simply to overcome hesitation.