Roma have denied being interested in signing Nicolas Nkoulou after Torino president Urbano Cairo suggested the club could be forced to pay a €900,000 for contacting him.
The 29-year-old centre-back had reportedly become a transfer target for the Giallorossi, who are eager to strengthen their defensive options before the transfer deadline next Monday with the Cameroonian – who played 38 times, missing just three games in all competitions last season for Torino – appearing to be a solid option to replace Kostas Manolas.
Nkoulou is said to have told Torino boss Walter Mazzarri that he wanted to be excused from Sunday's Serie A opener against Sassuolo as he felt unable to focus amid the speculation over his future.