Sent packing: Ikea jokes with Roma over failed Malcom transfer
Ikea has joked with Roma over the failed transfer of Brazil player Malcom, responding to a viral tweet in which the Italian team unveiled successful Swedish signing Robin Olsen with a mock-up of the furniture firm’s instructions.
READ MORE: Roma mull legal action after Barcelona hijack Malcom deal
Roma secured the services of Swedish international goalkeeper Robin Olsen, 28, on Tuesday, with the player signing from Copenhagen in a deal worth a reported €12 million (US$14 million).
The Italian club decided to riff on the player’s Swedish background in the novel unveiling of their new goalkeeper, tweeting an instruction set in the classic Ikea style containing a picture of Olsen.
New delivery for #ASRomapic.twitter.com/gW6rwnYtxf
— AS Roma English (@ASRomaEN) July 24, 2018
One transfer target they failed to get their hands on however was Brazilian youngster Malcom. The 21-year-old forward had appeared set to join Roma on Monday from Bordeaux, with the clubs announcing a deal, before Barcelona swooped in with a better offer to lure the player to Spain.
That prompted Ikea’s Italian division to issue a tweet to Roma over the arrival of Olsen and the failed signing of Malcom, with the Swedish furniture giant posting a picture of a delivery box with the word ‘Malcom’ in Ikea font written above it.
Il portiere c'è. 🙌🇸🇪Dai, magari il pacco l'hanno preso loro. 😉 @OfficialASRoma#ASRoma#DajeOlsen#fairplaypic.twitter.com/8x4eP2dKcL
— IKEA Italia (@IKEAITALIA) July 25, 2018
The picture was accompanied by the message: “The goalkeeper is there. Come on, maybe they got the package,” along with the hashtags #DajeOlsen and #fairplay in an apparent message of support to the club's new signing.
Malcom’s lack of arrival at Roma has prompted anger at the club, with officials saying they are considering legal action against Bordeaux and the player after the Italians were sent packing in favor of Barca.
The Brazilian forward passed a medical on Wednesday as part of a $48 million move, and will join his new teammates on their pre-season tour in the US.
Roma still have Swedish stopper Olsen however, who according to the club “has the qualities we were looking for in a goalkeeper.”
Di Francesco: "With Malcom, clearly it did not go as we wanted. Now I don't care: we always look forward and will now try to reinforce in another way."As for Olsen, he will need to adapt but he has the qualities we were looking for in a goalkeeper."#ASRoma#ICC2018pic.twitter.com/rTWwEBXZMu
— AS Roma English (@ASRomaEN) July 24, 2018
He will hope to assemble the defence in front of him as Roma bid to improve on their third place Serie A finish last season.
Olsen recently appeared with Sweden at the World Cup in Russia, where he helped the team reach the quarter-final stage.
