While their major title rivals Milan and Inter spent big during the January transfer window, Roma were remarkably quiet.

However, coach Claudio Ranieri insists that is not because they didn’t want to sign anyone but simply because they don’t have any money.

Milan brought in Nicola Legrottaglie, Antonio Cassano, Mark van Bommel, Urby Emanuelson and Didac Vila while Inter strengthened their roster with Giampaolo Pazzini, Houssine Kharja, Andrea Ranocchia and Japanese full-back Yuto Nagatomo.

But Ranieri moaned that the best his team can hope for is to get their injured players back to full fitness.

“They (Milan and Inter) were already better than us and they have more money to invest so they bought players,” he said.

Those lacking funds could soon become available, though, if Roma’s proposed sale goes through. The current owners, including the Sensi family, UniCredit bank and Rothschild will evaluate five offers tomorrow.

But Ranieri does not feel that a change of owners will put his position under threat.

“I won’t give more to new owners, I’ve always given my best to everyone, for myself and for Roma’s players,” he said.

“It’s hard to prove yourself at 60, everyone should already know my strengths and faults.”

However, referring to countryman Carlo Ancelotti’s £50 million signing of Fernando Torres at Chelsea, Ranieri said money counts.

“It’s clear that money counts, just look at the present Chelsea gave to Ancelotti,” he said.