Roma director Mauro Baldissoni has admitted that the club would have liked to bring in Jack Wilshere on loan but claims they missed out because the Arsenal midfielder preferred to stay in England.

Standard Sport reported on Thursday that Arsenal, frustrated by the Italians’ attitude in previous negotiations over Kostas Manolas, had quoted Roma a higher loan fee to take Wilshere than they asked for from Crystal Palace or Bournemouth, who won the race for the England international in the final hours of the transfer window.

Eddie Howe’s side paid £2million to take Wilshere on loan and will cover all of his £90,000-a-week pay packet, a sizeable sum for Roma, who missed out on Champions League football with defeat to Roma last week.

However Baldissoni insisted it was Wilshere’s desire, and not finances, that saw Roma miss out on the loan deal.

“Towards the end of the market we saw the chance to take an opportunity,” he told TeleRadioStereo.

“We had identified Wilshere, who could’ve suited us, but he decided to remain in England. For the rest, we did what we needed to do.”

Wilshere himself credited the influence of Bournemouth boss Howe in convincing him to move to the south coast, whilst the midfielder’s close friend Benik Afobe also played a role in securing the deal.

“I had a good chat with the manager and feel sure that this is the best place for me to play and develop this season,” Wilshere wrote on his Twitter feed.

“I am looking forward to working hard every day with the coaching staff and my new team-mates to help the club achieve success on the pitch.”