ROMA

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Roma will go into Sunday's crucial game at Palermo with the reassuring knowledge that neither the club or their star players are up for sale.

Reports in the Italian press this week suggested that Livorno president Aldo Spinelli was set to make an offer to buy the cash-strapped Eternal City club.

And the speculation immediately reopened the debate on the future of Roma's attacking trio Francesco Totti, Antonio Cassano and Vincenzo Montella, who have yet to extend their contracts which will end in 2006.

However, the club have denied they are about to get a new owner.

``Roma has not received any offers or entered into any negotiations regarding the sale of the Giallorosso club,'' said a statement on the club's official website. There are no negotiations on course to transfer any of our players and there are no obstacles in order for the club to renew our players' contracts.''

The speculation may have had a negative repercussion on the stock exchange with Roma's share value dropping by 2.94% on Thursday.

However, it does not appear to have affected Luigi Del Neri's men, who are fully concentrated on the crucial encounter in Sicily, with Roma aiming to close the gap on the top four teams.

Last weekend's 3-0 win against Livorno has placed the Giallorossi in seventh position, three points behind their target of a Champions League spot.

Yet although Europe's elite competition was not the pre-season aim of their opponents Palermo, the Sicilians cannot be discounted in the race, with the club one place and one point above Roma.

``In the case of victory we will change our objectives,'' admitted Palermo striker Luca Toni. Before we were talking about safety and now we know we can point much higher.''

While Palermo have won their last two games at La Favorita, a memorable win against Juventus and last week's 3-2 triumph over Lecce, Roma have just taken one point in their last two outings.

And with Totti suspended for Sunday's game, Alberto Guidolin's men will no doubt be keen to take full advantage.

Totti was responsible for the goal which allowed Roma to take a point against Palermo in their previous encounter earlier in the season, but Toni warned that the Rosaneri will still have to pay particular attention to Roma's goalscoring machine Montella, who has netted 19 league goals in 24 games.

``It's clear that Totti's absence will hinder Roma but then there are other champions in their team like Serie A's top scorer Montella,'' said Toni.

The hosts will be without midfielder Massimo Mutarelli, who picked up a thigh injury during training earlier this week.

No one would have believed at the start of the season that this encounter might decide a Champions League spot. The Rosanero are on a good run and beating a direct rival would surely give Guidolin’s squad a boost for the final run of the season. Roma cannot lost if they still want to stand a chance of finishing at least fourth. A defeat here would most surely mean no Champions League football next year but just Uefa Cup. A disaster for Roma.
 

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