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Roma don't have to sell players thanks to Champions League run - Monchi

Roma's run to the Champions League semifinals means they no longer have to sell players, sporting director Monchi has said.

Last summer's sale of Mohamed Salah to Liverpool was driven by the need to comply with Financial Fair Play restrictions, with Edin Dzeko on the verge of being sold in January for the same reason.

Roma took €5.5 million in gate receipts at Wednesday's second leg against Liverpool -- an Italian record for a single game -- while additional television revenue is set to see the Giallorossi earn around €100 million.

"Things are different now compared to last season," Monchi told La Gazzetta dello Sport. "We can now make the call on whether or not to sell."

Roma will now resist approaches for goalkeeper Alisson Becker, with Real Madrid reported to be leading the chase for the Brazil international.

The club also negotiated the most lucrative sponsorship deal in their history last week, with a shirt sponsor returning after five years, and are on course to secure another season in the Champions League.

"Now we must make sure we keep the core of this side together, with great players, experienced players, gutsy players, and keep dreaming," captain Daniele De Rossi told the Roma website.

There was anger in the Roma camp that they were denied two penalties against Liverpool, leading to renewed calls for VAR to be introduced in the Champions League.

Giovanni Malago, the president of Italy's Olympic Committee and commissioner of the Italian Football Association, Giovanni Malago, told La Gazzetta dello Sport: "Out of duty and institutional respect, I've been to UEFA and spoken with [president Aleksander] Ceferin, whom I respect a lot for his pragmatism.

"On behalf of the whole of Serie A, I asked why UEFA has not yet adopted VAR, considering the incredible importance of the European cups and the sporting and economic interests they affect.

"Ceferin explained to me that it's only a matter of time. He says the level of awareness and ability of the referees needs to improve, and it is difficult to organise training for 55 nations in Europe at the same speed as that of a single federation like Italy.

"But that is the objective and the road seems to be signposted -- I hope to see it in the near future, at least for the final stages of the Champions League."

Marcello Nicchi, the chief of refereeing in Italy, said: "There have been some mistakes which have damaged our teams a lot, but it's purely coincidental.

"Of course these serious mistakes would have been cancelled out with VAR, and this is the reason why I am convinced that we will see the technology being used by UEFA very soon."

Ceferin said at the recent UEFA congress that VAR would not be used in the Champions League next season.