AS Roma director Bruno Conte has revealed that Chelsea once had a €70m (£60m) offer for midfielder Daniele De Rossi turned down.

The Italian international, whose contract at the Stadio Olimpico expires in the summer, has long been linked with a transfer to the Premier League.

It has now emerged that the Blues attempted to make the speculation come true.

"De Rossi will stay at Roma, no doubt about it," Conti told Radio Mana Mana. "I would like to remind people of the following: Chelsea offered €70m for him, a lot of money, but [then-president] Rosella Sensi turned it down."

De Rossi has spent his entire professional career with Roma.