Roma struggling to land Lucio
Lucio's agent Sandro Becker met with Roma officials on Thursday, after the Italian giants struck a near ‚é¼15 million deal with the player's German club Bayer Leverkusen.
Reports suggested that the Brazilian defender had asked for ‚é¼5 million per season - after tax - a similar amount to superstar Francesco Totti.
Roma were apparently offering just half that amount, but Becker has denied that his client has made any such demands.
He said: "I don't know how much Totti earns, but Lucio is upset to have read the sums that are being mentioned in today's papers.
"He hasn't asked for so much, he has just asked for what he thinks he deserves."
Talks are not dead, however, and Becker will meet again with Roma in the next few days to try and strike a deal.
The player himself has admitted that he will not take a pay-cut to move to Stadio Olimpico.
"I know Italian football is going through a tough economic situation and I also know Roma are trying to negotiate some salary reductions, but I hope this won't be a problem for my transfer," said Lucio.
"Surely it wouldn't be right for me to earn less in comparison to what I earn now at Bayer."
