Roma president James Pallotta has publicly called out Barcelona for the manner in which the La Liga club stole away Malcom from under his side's noses.
The Giallorossi looked set to snap up the Brazilian youngster from Bordeaux after the two clubs confirmed a deal had been agreed. A medical was scheduled for the 21-year-old winger but Roma were beaten to the punch at the 11th hour by the La Liga giants, leaving waiting Italian fans at the airport disappointed.
"There's no question that we had a deal with Malcom, then Barca jumped into the mix, unethically and immorally. They knew this was done," Pallotta said on Thursday.
"I have zero problem battling it out for a player with Inter or Bayern or whoever and all of us going through the same process. That's the way it works. Sure, some people say 'It wasn't signed.' That's bulls---. We all know how it works. The kid comes in for the medical and the signing is done."
Roma are reportedly evaluating legal action against Bordeaux for balking at the deal in the face of Barcelona's more lucrative interest, and Pallotta reserved some of his fury for the French club.
"Other teams know not to come in and do what Barca did. Bordeaux should've never been doing what they did. Their actions were ridiculous. For Bordeaux to come back and say, 'Oh well, we didn't sign it ..." Well, they asked if they could put it on their website and tweet that he's going to Rome."
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The outspoken 60-year-old added that although Barca has apologized for their dealings, he is not interested in accepting - unless the Blaugrana offer a remarkable gift in recompense.
"Yesterday, Barcelona apologized about their actions and how they did things. And I don't accept the apology at all. The only way I'll accept is if they send the player to us, and that's not going to happen. Or, maybe, as a goodwill gesture, the very least they could do is send us (Lionel) Messi."
