An Italian news agency claims there is Qatari interest in Roma but that it stems from private channels, Football Italia reported.

Roma are sponsored by Qatar Airways, and it had been reported that the country’s fund for sports investments, Qatar Sports Investments, were ready to buy the club.

Although President James Pallotta quickly dismissed the speculation as ‘fake news’, Adnkronos writes negotiations have taken place.

Contact would have been with a ‘private’ entity as opposed to QSI, which owns Paris Saint-Germain. “He wants to have the last word, he’s hesitating,” a source told the agency, referring to the position of PSG chief Nasser Al-Khelaifi.

“There have been negotiations, but no-one knows where they are right now.”

Adnkronos adds the issue cropped up in a recent conversation between Italy PM Giuseppe Conte and the Emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

“I heard you’re about to buy Roma,” Conte is quoted as asking the emir, who would have replied with a smile.

UEFA rules state that no two or more clubs are allowed to participate in its competitions if they are directly or indirectly controlled by the same entity or managed by the same person.

Qatar has bought the French club PSG to promote itself internationally and whitewash its terror-stained image.