GIALLOROSSI YORKSHIRE BLOG
Roma had to come from a goal behind to beat Serie C side Ternana in the second of two friendlies played on Saturday.
It was the first time Roma have found themselves in a losing position under Paulo Fonseca so far, but second half goals from Cengiz Under (2) and Gregoire Defrel put that right, securing a 3-1 win. Apart from goalkeeper Pau Lopez, who took the place of Daniel Fuzato, Fonseca started with the same lineup that had finished the morning's win over Rieti, making wholesale changes around 70 minutes in, mirroring what he had done in the first match of the day. It gave viewers a chance to assess the performances of the players who had only made brief cameos in the morning games, as Fonseca continues to instill his style into the squad. Pastore links up well with Under Javier Pastore has returned for this pre-season like a new man. Whereas last season he put in minimal effort, his attitude has been spot on so far, as he looks to correct the negative portrayal he had partially made for himself. Playing in the number 10 role, Pastore was integral to the fluidity of Roma's attacks. He particularly linked up well with Cengiz Under on his right, with the duo flicking the ball to each other often. Towards the end of the first half, they each created a chance for one another within the space of a minute, with Pastore shooting wide and Cengiz being thwarted by the keeper. And it was Pastore who set up Under for Roma's first goal, picking him out with a deft chip to get past the tight defence, before the winger took two bites of the cherry to finish from a wide angle. On a sidenote, Under's two finishes showed again how clinical and sharp he is looking; he could easily be in line for a 15-goal season. Perotti goes it alone In contrast, Diego Perotti found himself rather isolated, not linking up as well with his compatriot Pastore. Even when the left winger, who celebrated his 31st birthday on Friday, came inside to get involved, he wasn't picked out as often. In parts he was over-confident on the ball and greedy, when he should have mixed his game up by bringing others into play as well. He started pre-season on the front foot, but his last couple of performances have been a bit sub par, meaning the left wing spot is still up for grabs. Antonucci continues to be central With the way things are going so far, even Mirko Antonucci could stake a claim for that role. The youngster has thrived upon his return to the club following time out on loan last year, and if he can replicate these kind of performances against stronger opposition, he may well force himself into Fonseca's plans. When he came on in the second half, it was telling that he was deployed in the attacking midfield role that had been occupied by Pastore, whereas Nicolo Zaniolo, who also prefers that position, had to cover on the right wing. Either man could have done a job in either position, so can we read anything into the fact that it was Antonucci who was favoured in the more important role? He is of course further down the line physically compared to Zaniolo, given that he has been there since the start of pre-season while last season's breakout star arrived late, but if it was a tactical decision, maybe it shows how highly he is regarded by Fonseca. Cristante key to pressing Bryan Cristante is taking on more and more of a defensive role. While his passing has come into question so far, he has been doing the dirty work - and his work rate has been a major positive. Against Ternana, it was midfield partner Amadou Diawara who continued to be the playmaker from deep, whereas Cristante was often the first man to press the ball when Roma lost possession. He worked hard to close down opponents, showing the kind of work rate that inspires teammates to do the same. Cristante is far from the full package, but he is showing how willing he is to take on a slightly different role so that he can still make an impression. Placing the blame for the Ternana goal Roma had to respond to going behind for the first time this summer, after Ternana took the lead through captain Marino Defendi. The goal came from a free kick, which was conceded by Juan Jesus. The Brazilian defender tried to make a tackle when the ball wasn't clearly there for the taking - with plenty of cover behind him too - which gave the referee an easy decision to make. After the initial shot from the resulting free kick hit the bar, Patrik Schick showed a lack of intensity and desire to stop the follow-up effort from Defendi, turning his body rather than making an effort to block it. Player Ratings: Lopez 6; Florenzi 7; Fazio 7; Jesus 5; Kolarov 8; Diawara 7; Cristante 7; Under 8; Pastore 9; Perotti 5; Schick 6 Subs: Mirante 6; Karsdorp 6; Mancini 6; Spinazzola 7; Nzonzi 6; Santon 6; Zaniolo 7; Antonucci 7; Kluivert 6; Defrel 6 Man of the Match: Pastore
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Roma got back to their high-scoring best on Saturday morning with a win over Rieti in the first of two friendlies played today.
In the morning match, Roma defeated the local Serie C side 7-0, despite only being 1-0 up at half-time. New signings Leonardo Spinazzola, Gianluca Mancini and Amadou Diawara were on display again, but it was a familiar face from last season who opened the scoring, in the shape of Nicolo Zaniolo. After an own goal doubled the lead in the second half, Davide Santon, Cengiz Under, Alessandro Florenzi and Patrik Schick (2) scored to complete another comprehensive victory. Many players got at least an hour on the pitch as the intensity of their workload begins to increase (with those who didn't likely to play a major part against Ternana tonight). Thanks to that extended gametime, we learnt even more about what to expect from the players next season. Central Santon lifted by captaincy It seems unlikely that Santon will be a starter this season. Having been utilised in several different positions in pre-season so far, it appeared that Paulo Fonseca viewed him as more of a utility player. But he showed against Rieti that he still has a big part to play. Fonseca handed him the captain's armband as he was deployed in central midfield again, from where he looked solid and created a couple of chances - including a through ball to Juan Jesus in the second half. Even if he is just a rotation player, Santon's versatility and experience could come in handy this term. Roma not afraid to be patient Rieti proved quite hard to break down in the first half especially, suffocating the space for Roma with a compact formation. However, Roma didn't panic, and adapted their game accordingly. The Giallorossi weren't afraid to keep moving the ball so the could start fresh, with the increased time in possession undoubtedly being beneficial. The approach was about waiting for the right moment to pounce, and Roma did that, punishing their opponents when they began to grow tired in the second half. At any level, that ruthless edge is the difference between a good side and a great one. Nzonzi building up a rhythm Steven Nzonzi still looks likely to leave Roma this summer, but he put in another positive display. He was the bridge between defence and attack, getting on the ball and showing composure as the play went through him. If one of his passes went awry, he quickly rectified the mistakes by closing down the opponent and regaining possession. The Frenchman could still become an important player for Roma if he shows the right desire and commitment. Set piece struggles In a game that was broken up fairly often by fouls, Roma struggled to capitalise on their chances from set pieces. From one of their first free kicks, Zaniolo and Justin Kluivert made their plans too obvious, with the latter rolling the ball across to the former, whose shot was blocked. It was too easy for the onrushing opponents to read, meaning it was a good chance wasted. Likewise, from corners, Roma rarely hit the right areas, with many of Kluivert's crosses in particular going too deep. If the coaching staff can think of a way to vary up the set piece routines, Roma may have more success. Schick's finishing something to build on Patrik Schick will be causing Fonseca a headache at the minute. He has got on the scoresheet frequently this pre-season, but has struggled to get involved in the build-up play. In his shorter cameo against Rieti, he managed two good goals, through which he showed he can be a clinical finisher. It gives Fonseca something to work with; now the coach needs to work out how to integrate him better into the system and to play to his strengths. Of course, Schick may have to make some adjustments to his game too, which could be seen in more detail in tonight's game against Ternana. Player Ratings: Olsen 6; Karsdorp 5; Mancini 6; Bianda 6; Spinazzola 8; Nzonzi 7; Santon 8; Zaniolo 7; Antonucci 7; Kluivert 6; Defrel 5 Subs: Fuzato 6; Florenzi 7; Fazio 6; Jesus 6; Kolarov 6; Diawara 6; Cristante 6; Under 7; Pastore 7; Perotti 6; Schick 7 Man of the Match: Spinazzola Roma's unbeaten start to pre-season continued on Wednesday with a 3-0 win over Gubbio, who represented a step up in level of opposition.
The last two friendlies, against Tor Sapienza and Trastevere, saw Roma hit double figures, but the match against Serie C side Gubbio was played at a higher intensity, which Paulo Fonseca's side had to adapt to. Gubbio could have caught Roma out on a couple of occasions, but were often unluckily beaten by the offside trap. Nonetheless, there was some concern to be drawn from how they could get in behind the backline. Goals from Federico Fazio, Mirko Antonucci and Javier Pastore, however, sealed the victory, as we learned several more things about how Roma are setting up under Fonseca. Diawara debut The new signings are starting to be integrated into match contention, and the Gubbio clash gave Amadou Diawara his first outing in the red and yellow jersey. The midfielder impressed in his 45 minute cameo, dictating the tempo of the game with his impressive range of passing. Equally comfortable at rotating possession with a simple pass or clipping an aerial through ball into the channels, he was a positive force from the middle of the park. He was seen in intense dialogue with Fonseca during the drinks break, and the coach told Roma TV after the game that he has "much to improve in his playing style", but if anything, that should be taken as a symbol of the coach's high demands. Cristante contrast Diawara's debut was so refreshing when contrasted with the performance of midfield partner Bryan Cristante. The number of occasions the Italian put his teammates under pressure or gave the ball away when playing a forward pass was difficult to keep count of. Perhaps this can be attributed to Gubbio's intense pressing game, which admittedly caught Roma by surprise, but this has been a regular theme with Cristante, even in competitive games. Unlike Diawara, he simply does not have a creative kind of long ball in his locker. He broke up play relatively well, but in reality, that's not what he's there for. Especially given the arrival of Jordan Veretout adding more competition in his position, Cristante has much to improve. Zaniolo eager on return Also making his first appearance of pre-season was Nicolo Zaniolo, who had been away with the Italy U21 side. He looked eager to prove himself, and caught the eye with an incredible first touch to control a ball from the air on the edge of the box, beating a defender in the process and letting fly with an admittedly weak shot. However, the same problems he had last season resurfaced - an over-eagerness to impress and win the ball, leading to needless fouls being committed. Had it not been a friendly, he would have been booked for one memorable cynical challenge. His enthusiasm is good, but he needs to learn when and how to use it. Precise Pastore from deep Another player eager to make an impression, and someone who has more of a point to prove, Pastore put in a second positive display of pre-season. Against Tor Sapienza, Pastore roamed freely about the pitch, getting on the ball as often as possible. The pattern continued against Gubbio, where again he dropped into a deeper position, occupying one of the two defensive midfield roles. It's an interesting use of the Argentine, who struggles last year were mainly tactical in Eusebio Di Francesco's 4-3-3 system. He has always been a number 10, but Fonseca may be trying to reinvent him as a regista. It certainly appears to be working, as he contributed a goal and an assist. Fonseca sending messages? Two more decisions from Fonseca caught the eye - that to hand Edin Dzeko the captain's armband in the first half, when it has normally been worn by Diego Perotti (who, coincidentally, didn't match the level of his other performances in pre-season so far), and to deploy Alessandro Florenzi, who assumed the armband in the second half as usual, as a right-back. In terms of the Dzeko case, is it a message that the striker is part of his plans, amid heavy interest from Inter? Or perhaps it was an effort to make Inter raise their bid; by showing he is still important to Roma, maybe that could increase his value, prompting the Nerazzurri to get closer to Roma's €20m demands. As for Florenzi, who has been impressing as a left winger, maybe it was a sign to Gianluca Petrachi and the board that a right-back needs to be signed, or Roma risk their captain being used out of position again. That may be an over-analysis, as Fonseca is still getting to know his squad and may have just wanted to see what Florenzi was like at right-back, but most people would surely prefer the 28-year-old on the wing after his struggles in defence in recent seasons. Perhaps the club will act on this signal and make a move for wantaway Napoli man Elseid Hysaj. Player Ratings: Mirante 6; Santon 7; Mancini 6; Fazio 5; Spinazzola 7; Diawara 8; Cristante 6; Defrel 5; Zaniolo 6; Perotti 6; Dzeko 6 Subs: Lopez 6; Florenzi 7; Jesus 6; Capradossi 6; Kolarov 6; Nzonzi 7; Pastore 8; Under 7; Antonucci 7; Kluivert 8; Schick 5 Man of the Match: Diawara As Daniele De Rossi prepares to head to Argentina on his 36th birthday to sign for Boca Juniors, the reality that he is no longer a Roma player is really beginning to hit home - if it hadn't already.
De Rossi's exit from his hometown club meant that, despite being second on the list of all-time appearances, he would never get the chance to win a Serie A title with Roma - a cruel fate that has also met several of the club's biggest legends. Here are just 10 of the players whose great service to Roma sadly never culminated in a league title. Giacomo Losi De Rossi shares a feat with Francesco Totti, who of course did win Serie A with Roma, that no-one else can match - that of making more appearances for the club than Giacomo Losi. Representing no other team in Serie A, defender Losi featured for Roma on an impressive 455 occasions. He remains the only captain to have lifted a European trophy with Roma - the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in 1961 - but was never able to add the Italian title to his medal collection. Fulvio Bernardini Long before even Losi, Bernardini was a player whose contribution to Roma was so great that their training ground is named after him to this day. Joining the club in 1928, a year after their foundation, the midfielder was undoubtedly one of the best of his generation, playing his part in laying the groundworks for Roma to become serious challengers, but he dropped down to Serie C to close out his career three years before Roma won their first ever Scudetto. Pedro Manfredini One of the key players in the Fairs Cup triumph, having been the tournament's top scorer that year, Manfredini was one of the most clinical strikers in Roma's history. No foreign player scored more goals for the club than the Argentine, who had a phenomenal goals-to-games ratio - but like his teammate Losi, he couldn't clinch Scudetto honours during his time in Rome. Rodolfo Volk Another great striker from an earlier era, Volk holds several impressive records for Roma. As the first ever goalscorer in the Derby Della Capitale and the first player to reach 100 goals for the club, his place in history is assured. However, his five-year stint in Rome ended without a trophy. Francesco Rocca One of the first players to be inducted into the Roma Hall of Fame, Rocca was a one-club man who, despite only scoring two goals in his career, will always be remembered by the Giallorossi faithful for his loyalty. Roma's left-back of the 1970s brushed shoulders with many members of the squad that would conquer Italy in 1983, but he had retired before he could have been a part of that glorious triumph. Sergio Santarini Santarini left Roma in the same year as Rocca (1981), and was a player who had similar longevity with the club. The defender played for the Lupi across three decades, having joined in the late 1960s, and won three Coppe Italia with the club; however, just like his teammate, the league title eluded him. Alcides Ghiggia The legendary winger, who scored the winning goal for Uruguay in the 1950 World Cup final, was one of Roma's most gifted players in the 1950s and 60s. He made more than 200 appeareances, with the crowning glory of his time in Italy being the Fairs Cup triumph he was a part of alongside Losi and Manfredini. The year after he left Roma, he finally won Serie A with AC Milan - although he only played a bit part role. Toninho Cerezo One of the players added to the squad after the Scudetto was won in 1983, it was hoped that Cerezo could help inspire an age of dominance for Roma. He played a big part in the Giallorossi's quest to the final of the European Cup in his first year, only for his new side to be beaten by Liverpool. Like Ghiggia, he managed to win a league title elsewhere after leaving Roma, with Sampdoria in 1991 - although he was once again a beaten finalist in the European Cup the following season. Pierino Prati One of the legendary Nils Liedholm's first signings at Roma in 1973, Prati was hoping to replicate the success he had had at Milan, where he had won the Scudetto in 1968. Despite his optimal goalscoring record in the 1974-75 season, Roma only came third that year - and it turned out to be his highest league finish with the club. He had retired by the time his former coach Liedholm guided Roma to the title in the 1980s. Rudi Voller A striker of international quality, Germany legend Voller was Roma's top scorer in three of his five years in Italy. Unfortunately, that stint came in something of a bridging period between Roma's two most recent league titles. Joining in 1987 for Liedholm's last full season in charge, it was the end of an era as Voller lent his talents to the Lupi. After scoring 68 goals for the club, Voller left Roma in 1992, the year before a certain Francesco Totti made his debut - signalling the start of a new journey that would reach its pinnacle almost a decade on, with the club's third league title coming in the 2000-01 campaign. Watch: The best videos as fans line the streets of Rome to celebrate the club's foundation22/7/2019
The question of when Roma was founded is a topic of debate among the club's fanbase, but the most traditional answer is 22nd July.
Officially, the club was established on 7th June 1927, but many still believe that the real date of Roma's foundation was 22nd July, and fans have been lining the streets of Rome to celebrate the occasion. Last night, waiting for midnight, supporters gathered around iconic landmarks such as the Pantheon and Piazza Del Popolo, as well as the location of the club's first stadium, Campo Testaccio, to mark the 92nd anniversary of the club's formation. Here are some of the best videos and photos of the events from Twitter.
Paulo Fonseca's first pre-season in charge of Roma continued on Saturday with a comfortable 10-1 win over Serie D side Trastevere.
Gianluca Mancini made his debut in the second half, while fellow new signings Pau Lopez and Leonardo Spinazzola both featured again. There were nine different scorers, with Edin Dzeko notching a brace. Once again, a former Primavera player found the net, with Christian D'Urso making his mark this time. Elsewhere, Cengiz Under, Mirko Antonucci, Patrik Schick and Diego Perotti all scored for the second game running. Like Thursday's pre-season opener, it was a game more about fitness levels and getting players minutes, but there were still some interesting talking points from the encounter. Florenzi always higher up the agenda Fonseca decided to use captain Alessandro Florenzi as a left winger in his first game in charge, after years of seeing the Roman wasted at right-back. He deployed the Italian in the same position again in the first half against Trastevere, and it looks like the 28-year-old is finally being unleashed. He threaded a delightful through ball to Under for his side's third goal, and after being moved to another role, central midfield, for the start of the second half, he set up Patrik Schick for another assist. Double threat down the left Despite his positive start to pre-season, Florenzi still may find it difficult to hold a regular place in his new position, due to the strong impact Diego Perotti has also made. The man who has worn the captain's armband in Florenzi's absence so far, Perotti seems ready to take a step up after an uneventful season on a personal note. He linked up well with left-back Spinazzola, with the duo combining for Perotti's goal. Both are right-footed players, but are showing confidence to go to the byline and use their weaker left feet as well. These combinations and alternative options will keep opposing defences guessing at any level. Bouah's positive impression Playing in Florenzi's old right-back role for the second half was Primavera defender Devid Bouah, who for the second game in a row made a good impression. Only 17 years of age, the Italian enjoyed surging forward and put in some good crosses. Roma have an abundance of options in the position now, so it shouldn't be expected to see him playing regularly come the new season, but he certainly looks like a prospect for the future. Concentration is essential It can be easy for players to get carried away when taking on an opposition of far lesser quality, but there is no excuse for complacency. Some started to creep in from Roma, with certain players trying too many flicks and ultimately losing possession. It's good for them to be creative and try new things, but even though these games are easy, they need to be treated in a manner relative to the kind of matches Roma will be playing in during the season. Those failed flicks will be punished in Serie A and Europe. There was also an error of judgement from Rick Karsdorp that led to Trastevere's goal. The full-back needlessly threw the ball to Federico Fazio, who couldn't control it, before the opposing attacker beat Robin Olsen in a one-on-one. Such risks don't paint a good picture and need to be reduced. Selection issues On the topic of the Swedish keeper, what can be made of the fact that he was playing? He surely has no future at Roma after last season's disaster, so why take minutes away from other keepers who do? Perhaps it has just been to put him in the shop window again, but it would be more beneficial for even a youth keeper to take part in these games instead. Likewise, Edin Dzeko started and put in a much improved performance. Is the striker being re-integrated into first team plans despite all the talk of a move away? If he can replicate that kind of performance against the better teams for Roma, then it would be fine, but it still looks likely that he'll be leaving. Surely the side needs to come first when the lineups are being picked. Player Ratings: Olsen 5; Karsdorp 6; Capradossi 6; Fazio 6; Kolarov 7; Cristante 7; Nzonzi 6; Under 7; Antonucci 7; Florenzi 8; Dzeko 8 Subs: Lopez 6; Bouah 7; Jesus 6; Mancini 6; Spinazzola 7; Santon 6; D'Urso 6; Defrel 6; Perotti 8; Schick 5 Man of the Match: Perotti The Paulo Fonseca era at Roma began yesterday with a 12-0 win over local side Tor Sapienza in a friendly match.
Fonseca selected two entirely different lineups for each half, with new signings Pau Lopez and Leonardo Spinazzola making their debuts. A Roma side featuring the duo, Steven Nzonzi, Gregoire Defrel and Javier Pastore took a five-goal lead into half-time, before Mirko Antonucci took centre-stage in the second half with a hat trick, playing alongside the likes of Edin Dzeko, Alessandro Florenzi and Robin Olsen. Against opposition of little quality, it’s hard to read too much into the performance, but even so, there is a story behind every game. And especially with this being the first in charge for Fonseca, there were some interesting observations to be made. Pastore’s movement This year could be a fresh start for Javier Pastore, who struggled tactically and fitness-wise in his first season with Roma. While last season he was often quite lazy, against Tor Sapienza he roamed freely about the pitch, looking to get on the ball. It was still hardly a display of top level dynamism, but it didn’t exactly need to be against such opposition. Perhaps he can build on this to find a rhythm ahead of the new campaign. Spinazzola’s positive debut The reaction to most of Roma’s signings this summer has been positive, but perhaps the one to have received the most mixed reception was Leonardo Spinazzola. His quality wasn’t in doubt, but fans were concerned over his fitness, and the fact that his arrival meant the sale of Luca Pellegrini to Juventus. However, his debut showed he can become a solid presence for the team at left-back. He even marked the occasion with a goal, in which he cut inside onto his stronger right foot. Notably, he was one of the only players to break into a smile after scoring - another sign that he seems genuinely pleased to be at the club, and ready to kick on and prove himself. Anonymous strikers Both Dzeko and Patrik Schick got on the scoresheet, with the former contributing an impressive assist for Cengiz Under’s goal as well, but besides that, their involvement in the play was minimal. Schick’s two goals were good finishes, but he still looks unsettled in a Roma shirt, struggling to get involved in the play. Dzeko dropped off massively in intensity after getting his goal, wasting a couple of opportunities. Unlike Spinazzola, his head is clearly not with Roma right now. Meanwhile, fellow striker Defrel returned to the right wing, after impressing centrally with Sampdoria last year, and encountered similar problems to the ones he had in his first season at Roma. In patches he was lively, but lacked the conviction to take on some shots as well. He remains not quite up to standard for a club of Roma’s ambitions. Youth's contrasting fortunes Fonseca called up Primavera midfielders Emanuele Spinozzi and Alessandro Bordin - both of whom spent last season out on loan - for the game, with each playing in one half. The former even got on the scoresheet, and looked eager to get forward. The most successful youngster on the pitch, though, was undoubtedly Antonucci. Also returning from a loan, and the only one of the three to have featured for Roma's first team in a competitive match to date, the attacking midfielder took his opportunity by adding three goals and an assist for Florenzi. Whether the 20-year-old has the physicality to compete at a more realistic level remains to be seen, but he was certainly central to Roma's fluidity. Right-back experiments Four right-backs took to the pitch, but only two were used in that role. In the first half, Davide Santon partnered Juan Jesus at centre-back, and while he wasn't tested much, it may be an experiment worth persevering with. Perhaps more significant was the deployment of Florenzi as a left winger in the second period. The captain has played there before, only rarely, yet he didn't look out of place. He's no Stephan El Shaarawy, but perhaps he can revive his reputation by putting in some good performances from the opposite side of the pitch to usual. Player Ratings: (First Half) Lopez 6; Karsdorp 6; Santon 7; Jesus 7; Spinazzola 8; Nzonzi 6; Spinozzi 7; Defrel 6; Pastore 7; Perotti 7; Schick 6 (Second Half) Olsen 6; Bouah 7; Capradossi 6; Fazio 6; Kolarov 6; Cristante 6; Bordin 6; Under 7; Antonucci 8; Florenzi 7; Dzeko 6 Man of the Match: Antonucci It would be hard to find a more hated man at Roma than Franco Baldini at present.
The former sporting director, turned advisor to president James Pallotta, has drawn the wrath of fans due to his influence in the decision not to reward Daniele De Rossi with a new contract, while he was also called out by Francesco Totti in all but name when the Roma legend announced his resignation from his role as a director. "You can't have too many people sticking their oar in and causing chaos," Totti ranted. "Everyone should do their own job and leave the others to get on with their own work, that'd allow everything to run smoothly. "You can do all the talking you want from Trigoria, but the last word will always come from London." While members of the club hierarchy confirmed that Baldini no longer had an official role with the club, it was clear for all to see that he was still pulling the strings, abusing his close ties with Pallotta to overturn the wishes of others within the club. New sporting director Gianluca Petrachi, however, insisted that he would not let Baldini overpower him when he spoke to the press for the first time. "I want everyone here to understand that Franco Baldini won't be influencing my decisions or telling me what to do," he insisted, "because before joining this club, I said quite clearly: 'If you want me, this is who I am; otherwise, you've got the wrong guy'." A breath of fresh air, no doubt, for the fans who had grown so tired, frustrated and angry at Baldini's opinion being taken more seriously than anyone else's. The strong-willed Petrachi admitted, however, that Baldini could still be an asset. "But Franco Baldini can be resource for me. He has an in-depth knowledge of the game and he's done my job before. He knows the difficulties and problems I face. "If Franco Baldini calls me tonight, as he's done in recent days and weeks, and says, 'There's the chance to get this player', if he knows the right channels to go down, and if he's the right sort of player, I'll tell him to go ahead and then I'll speak to whoever I have to speak to. That's the sort of collaboration there should be between a consultant and a sporting director. I can assure you that if the opposite were to happen, then I wouldn't be sitting here." Not even a week on, and Baldini is already back in the news. However, this time, he could actually be doing Roma a favour. According to La Stampa's Matteo De Santis, Baldini will meet with Tottenham Hotspur - another club with whom he has a tarnished reputation, having overseen the sale of Gareth Bale to Real Madrid before re-investing the money poorly - to discuss the possibility of Roma signing Toby Alderweireld on Friday. The Belgian centre-back has excelled in his five seasons in the Premier League - initially at Southampton, and then at Spurs. One of the best defenders in the division, he has frequently been linked with a move to bigger clubs such as Manchester United, with his £25m (€27.8m) release clause looking more than appealing in the current market. Far from just being a replacement for Kostas Manolas, Alderweireld would be a definitive upgrade over the Greek, who recently departed for Napoli. A much more solid player who is also better on the ball, his 30 years of age should be no concern. Roma need players of his quality now. If Baldini was successful in his attempts to bring Alderweireld to Roma, how far would that go towards changing the general perception of him? It will take a long time for him to rebuild the bridges he burnt by playing a role in pushing Totti and De Rossi out of the club, but, if he's not going to go away, then this would be an ideal first step on a difficult road to redemption. If any deal included Nicolo Zaniolo going the other way, then it may feel like going back to square one, but realistically, it's important not to get too carried away by the young midfielder. His first season was inconsistent, and Roma may never get these kinds of offers for him again. Alderweireld would be more important to this team right now. Without Champions League football next season, Roma shouldn't really be able to compete for a player of such quality. But if Baldini can make it possible, it would be a coup. Adding Alderweireld could be the remedy he needs. This is exactly the kind of deal that Petrachi was talking about: Baldini has his contacts, and if they can help him benefit Roma, then he could be useful after all. He might just be able to give them a few leads on players that can bolster the quality of the squad. But it would just be one step, and a far from certain one at that. In reality, it will likely take more than just Alderweireld to heal the wounds that Baldini has inflicted on the supporters recently.
For the second year in a row, Roma have sold their best player of the season.
Two years ago it was goalkeeper Alisson Becker who bailed Roma out on several occasions, but after his departure for Liverpool, it was an outfield player who stepped out of the shadows to become the main man: Stephan El Shaarawy. El Shaarawy's previous two-and-a-half seasons at Roma had seen him become the symbol of inconsistency, as he flattered to deceive by scoring eight goals in his first 17 games after joining in January 2016. In the pair of seasons that followed, though, he struggled to match that output, often rotating with Diego Perotti for the left wing spot. However, to say that El Shaarawy is still inconsistent would be a misplaced judgement. In 2018-19, he finally shed that tag and became a game-changer again. Perhaps several injuries to Perotti helped him, as regular, uninterrupted playing time gave him the chance to build up a rhythm. Or maybe it was all on merit and he would have thrived anyway. Whatever the reason, it seemed the 26-year-old was finally growing into his potential.
There was one problem, however. With his contract expiring in June 2020, his club had to decide whether to renew his deal, sell him, or risk losing him for free next summer. El Shaarawy made it abundantly clear to the press on several occasions that he wanted to renew. He spoke of how he was thriving with more responsibility and felt at home with Roma. However, on the other side, there was little but silence. Not helped by the sudden departure of sporting director Monchi in March, after the Spaniard took exception to the club's decision to veto him and sack coach Eusebio Di Francesco, the topic of retaining El Shaarawy slipped off the radar somewhat. Even when his match-winning goals kept coming - many of them long-distance spectaculars, like the one he scored against Empoli in Claudio Ranieri's first game back in charge, and his strike in the draw with Inter which was voted the Giallorossi Yorkshire goal of the season - no member of the hierarchy took the kind of responsibility he was showing on the pitch to make his renewal not just a priority, but a matter of urgency. Perhaps there is someone who has slipped the net of criticism but shares a portion of the blame here: Monchi's interim successor Ricky Massara. A central part of the club's decision-making processes over the past few years, Massara was placed in temporary charge of Roma's sporting operations in the wake of Monchi's exit. But what did he actually do? When an interim coach comes in, they are expected to have an impact and change a few things. Ranieri succeeded at that task, improving Roma defensively by making Antonio Mirante his first choice keeper and bringing the best out of Federico Fazio and Steven Nzonzi. So why weren't the same expectations bestowed upon an interim sporting director? Massara should have seen that it was fundamental to the club to keep hold of El Shaarawy, but perhaps the new Milan man's motives lied elsewhere. Another player left in the dark by Massara and those above him was Nicolo Zaniolo, who rightly or wrongly appealed for an improved contract as his reputation grew. But as his father Igor confirmed, nobody from the club even contacted them after Monchi left. The midfielder looks set to leave now as a result, with a move to childhood favourites Juventus beckoning. That will be a blow for Roma - one that could albeit be softened by the inclusion of Juve players in the deal - but it's not as large a dent as El Shaarawy's exit.
Of course Roma couldn't compete with the salary offer placed on the table by Shanghai Shenhua (he will earn €13m a year), but El Shaarawy made his desire to stay at Roma known long before that Chinese offer even materialised. Roma shouldn't have had to compete; their position over one of their key players should have been made clear, and a decision made much earlier. It's a situation Gianluca Petrachi will have to be careful to avoid in future. The new sporting director can't really be blamed for El Shaarawy's exit - it is the fault of those who came before him - but his acknowledgement that he only wants players who show a strong desire to be at Roma was a misreading of the winger's situation. Roma will miss Stephan El Shaarawy next year. He was becoming more and more a protagonist, and had the potential to grow into a leader. But they will have to look elsewhere now for someone to match his contributions. In a season where very few players reached acceptable standards, it seems a travesty that the best one is being sent away.
Roma’s new sporting director Gianluca Petrachi is already turning his attentions to bringing new players into the club, and his gaze appears to be partially cast towards La Liga.
Two of the names most heavily linked with a move to Roma both come from the same Spanish club: Real Betis. Goalkeeper Pau Lopez is seen as the ideal man to help fans forget about the woes of Robin Olsen, while Marc Bartra has been identified as a potential replacement for Kostas Manolas. Both are good players, who could prove to be solid additions. But how have players fared when joining Roma from La Liga in the past? Here are the 10 most recent players to make such a switch. Steven Nzonzi (2018) Somewhat surprisingly, Petrachi’s predecessor Monchi only signed one player from La Liga in his spell as Roma's sporting director, despite having spent all his previous career in Spain. That player was someone he had signed before, but like the director himself, wasn't able to replicate the success he had had at Sevilla. Steven Nzonzi's first season with Roma was a mix of ups and downs, with the defensive midfielder not showing the form that saw him become an important part of France's World Cup winning side last summer. After he failed to turn up for his pre-season medicals, it looks like he will be headed for a swift exit. Thomas Vermaelen (2016) Not helped by injuries during his time in the capital, the experienced Vermaelen was a big disappointment in his season on loan at Roma from Barcelona. He was sent off within the first half of his debut, picking up two yellow cards in the drawn first leg of the Champions League play-off defeat to Porto. Beyond that, he was only given six starts in all competitions by Luciano Spalletti, as Manolas, Antonio Rudiger, Federico Fazio and Juan Jesus all proved to be much more reliable options. Seydou Keita (2014) Hardly a headline grabber, but always a solid presence in the midfield, Keita arrived at Roma from Barcelona with a wealth of experience in 2014. He became one of the captains of the group, making more than 50 appearances across a two-year spell. He had won 14 major trophies with Barcelona, but the Malian was not able to add to his honours list in Italy. Antonio Sanabria (2014) Another player to have traded the Camp Nou for Stadio Olimpico, Sanabria had bags of potential when he arrived, but the young striker never really got his opportunity to flourish - making only two appearances before being loaned out to Sporting Gijon the next summer. Roma retained their belief in the player when they inserted a buyback clause into the deal when he was sold to Betis, but that agreement will be relinquished in order to bring Lopez to the club. Jose Angel (2011) With John Arne Riise leaving for Fulham in 2011, Roma needed a replacement at left-back, and 20-year-old Spaniard Jose Angel was chosen. After three successful seasons in the Spanish top flight with hometown club Sporting Gijon, he could have turned out to be a shrewd purchase, but the player lasted just a season in Rome before being loaned out to Real Sociedad for two years, and then being sold to Porto. Bojan Krkic (2011) Once dubbed the new Messi, Bojan was looking for a change of scenery after dropping down the pecking order at Barcelona. The forward joined Roma in a €12m deal, where he would be coached by a fellow former Barca man, Luis Enrique. That season did not go exactly as planned, as Roma came seventh in Serie A, with Bojan contributing seven goals from 33 league games. It was his only season at the Olimpico, as he headed to Milan the year after. Dani Osvaldo (2011) After playing for the likes of Lecce, Fiorentina and Bologna early in his career, Osvaldo made the switch to Spain in 2010 when he signed for Espanyol - initially on loan. The striker spent one-and-a-half seasons in La Liga, before Roma took him back to Italy. A controversial character, Osvaldo finished as top scorer in each of his two seasons with Roma, but Roma made a small loss when they sold him to Southampton in 2013. Fernando Gago (2011) Gago's career had stalled at Real Madrid when Roma took the chance to sign him on loan for Enrique's first season. Roma certainly gave him the opportunity to play more, as he made more appearances than he had managed in his last two years in Madrid, but it wasn't enough to convince the club to make his signing permanent. The Argentine went to Valencia instead. Julio Baptista (2008) Hardly prolific with Real Madrid, Roma gave Baptista the opportunity to revive his career in Italy. His debut was the 2008 Supercoppa Italiana, in which he scored in the penalty shootout as Roma lost to Inter. He continued his good start to life in Rome with a goal in his second Serie A appearance, and he also scored in the first Derby Della Capitale of the season. However, his numbers began to drop, and he was sold to Malaga in 2011. Ludovic Giuly (2007) A fully fledged French international by the time he came to Roma, Giuly had won La Liga with Barcelona in his first two seasons in Catalonia. However, in 2007, he had to make way for emerging talent Lionel Messi, who had taken his place in the team. Giuly came to Roma, where he lasted just a season, despite being the team's fourth top scorer in that campaign with eight goals in all. He was also able to add Supercoppa and Coppa Italia winners medals to his cabinet. Should their arrivals in Rome be confirmed, Lopez and Bartra will be hoping to buck the trend, as several players plucked from La Liga by Roma have not quite worked out as expected. Nonetheless, some were able to add trophies to their collection, and it wouldn’t go amiss if the Betis duo could help Roma achieve some form of major honours again after more than a decade of dust in the cabinet. |
samuel bannister
Founder and editor of Giallorossi Yorkshire, who is also a columnist for Roma's official website about the women's team. Categories
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