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Samuel told to forget about Real

ROMA have revealed they will contemplate sacrificing key players to finance their summer spending plans but have crushed Walter Samuel's dreams of joining Real Madrid.

Argentine defender Samuel has been repeatedly linked with a move to the Spanish titans, who desperately need to stabilise their creaking rearguard.

Samuel is certainly swayed by the temptation of signing for Real but Roma's sporting director Franco Baldini has told the stopper to forget about a summer switch.

Baldini said: "Samuel dreams of Real Madrid? He will stay even against his will, we are sorry."

The Roma supremo also affirmed the club would not hesitate to sell players such as Marco Delvecchio and Vincenzo Montella to enable the Giallorossi to be a force in Italy again.

Roma endured a torrid season in Serie A as Fabio Capello's troops finished in eighth position and Baldini warned the axe could fall, although he did back under-fire goalkeeper Ivan Pelizzoli to produce the goods next season.

"If Montella or Delvecchio's sale, or any other important player's sale, would enable us to buy a high-level player to allow Roma to make the quality jump, we would consider this option," added Baldini.

"As for Pelizzoli, his season has not been satisfying but we believe in his potential."

Baldini also refuted suggestions the club's proposal to reduce players' salaries by 25 percent had not met with the approval of the Roma squad.

He continued: "At the moment, there has been a general consensus and captain (Francesco) Totti gave his assent too, but just with words.

"We hope to be able to meet his agents in the next few days."