GIALLOROSSI YORKSHIRE BLOG
Roma have just one week left to make any final alterations to their squad before the transfer window closes on 2nd September.
The season has started with a frustrating 3-3 draw with Genoa, which has raised several questions about the squad despite some promising moments. There are just seven days left to rectify any issues by bringing in new faces, so here are five questions Roma and Gianluca Petrachi must ask before the deadline passes. Will Fonseca get his centre-back? Roma's need for a new central defender has been a long-running narrative all summer, even before the departure of Kostas Manolas to Napoli. Paulo Fonseca has repeated that he wants to see his backline reinforced further, despite the signings of Gianluca Mancini and full-backs Leonardo Spinazzola and Davide Zappacosta. However, the coach has admitted that he won't ask Petrachi to sign any defender for the sake of it, but it has to be someone who fits the right profile - experienced and comfortable playing in his high line. The options are not plentiful, with a club statement confirming that Roma will not be targeting any Torino players in the wake of comments from their president Urbano Cairo, which rules out a move for Nicolas Nkoulou. Can Roma find the defender they so desperately need? Can Roma get rid of the deadweight? As the market approaches its conclusion, the likes of Robin Olsen, Maxime Gonalons and Gregoire Defrel are still under contract. These players have shown that they are not good enough for Roma, so it would have been expected that solutions would have been found by now. Olsen's proposed move to Montpellier controversially fell through, while Sampdoria are pushing for a reunion with Defrel, who spent the last season on loan there. As for Gonalons, reported interest from England failed to materialise into a bid. Will Roma get rid of these players in time? What will happen with Schick? Another player who has not reached the required standards, but whom some still feel deserves another chance, is Patrik Schick. However, the Czech striker was an unused substitute against Genoa, and did not have the best pre-season despite scoring some decent goals. Roma need to decide quickly if he is up to the task of being Dzeko's deputy, or a more reliable alternative is needed. If they do sell him before 1st February, then former club Sampdoria will be entitled to either €20m or 50% of the sell-on fee - whichever is greater. It's quite clear that Roma will have to pay the €20m, then, but what is the best solution for the player? Does he move out on loan, with many Bundesliga clubs interested, or does he stay for one final crack at delivering on his expectations? Are more options out wide needed? Roma lost Stephan El Shaarawy to Shanghai Shenhua near the start of the transfer window, and are yet to replace him. Diego Perotti missed the Genoa match through injury, with tests confirming he could be out for two months. That may provide youngster Mirko Antonucci an opportunity, but is he really ready yet? The way Roma had to chase the winner against Genoa, without success, perhaps suggests a Plan B is needed. But is there enough time to get someone over the line? Will Roma make a positive or negative net spend? After spending big on the likes of Leonardo Spinazzola and Pau Lopez, it appears there are limited funds left for this summer. Around €80m has been spent on incoming transfers, while player sales have brought in about €90m. Of course, some of those deals took place in the previous financial year, before 1st July, so Roma may not have much to spend if they want to keep the books balanced for this period. Loan signings look the most likely scenario, but is there enough loose change to target one more permanent transfer and stay in the black? All in all, it could be an eventful seven days as Roma make the final tweaks to their squad.
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A clearer message could not have been sent. All the rumours and speculation, months of claims he would be leaving, ready to quit - all of that can be cast aside. Edin Dzeko is a part of Roma.
There had been growing optimism that the striker would be staying with Roma this season, despite intense interest from Inter Milan, but the manner in which his stay has been announced was eye-catching to say the least. The thought had been that Dzeko would see out his final year of his contract, or sign a single-year extension, ready to leave next summer. Instead, Roma have made an emphatic move. Granted, some eyebrows may be raised over the length of the deal, with Dzeko now on contract until he will be 36. But in doing so, Roma have shown a justified faith in their Bosnian hero. This is the boldest move that Gianluca Petrachi has made yet in his short time as sporting director, and will be one that could make or break the early judgement of him. But whether you agree with the length of the agreement or not, the 50-year-old has to be praised for the strength he has shown to complete this negotiation. Previous directors at Roma have buckled under the pressure to sell, leading to the likes of Mohamed Salah being sold for far less than their realistic value. In the case of Dzeko, though, Petrachi set his stall out early on, demanding not a cent less than the €20m he deemed Dzeko to be worth. And by extending his contract until 2022, Petrachi has sent a further strong message about the Bosnian’s future. Those rumours will not be allowed to persist.
Dzeko’s quality has been given the appreciation it deserves here. At times last season, he was made a scapegoat, as an experienced player performing far below his normal level. But Roma know him well enough to understand that last year was not a true reflection of his quality. Again, in the past the club have been somewhat short-sighted by moving on players at the first sign of decline. Now, they have gained a better appreciation of the value of leaders like Dzeko, recognising the quality is still there, waiting to be unleashed. And unleashed, it should be. Dzeko is made for Paulo Fonseca’s system, and was a class above the rest in the pre-season outing against Real Madrid recently. The 33-year-old’s best years with Roma came when he was the focal point of Luciano Spalletti’s 4-2-3-1 system, helping him to break club records that had stood for nearly a century. Under Fonseca, he will be able to occupy a similar position, thriving on what he does best: getting involved with the build-up play before arriving in the right positions to create danger in attacking zones. His leadership will also come to the fore, with his level of commitment shown through this renewal being an indication of the passion he feels for the club. Sometimes his body language on the pitch may not have suggested that last season, but whose did? Dzeko has been re-inspired, and will be using his vast experience to help guide the younger players. He is a silent leader, which is not necessarily a bad thing. Dzeko leads by example rather than voice; a contrast to the way Daniele De Rossi captained Roma, but a valuable aspect of a winning team nonetheless. Francesco Totti, for example, was never a fist-pumping, shouting, motivational leader. But he wore the armband with fierce pride for the best part of two decades. Dzeko will never reach the levels of admiration that his former teammate did, but he will be a similar vital focal point for a team undergoing a period of transition.
Yes, his signing means Roma can all-but end their dreams of signing Mauro Icardi, but that was always an unrealistic ambition. Dzeko has shown that he can be just as effective, and maintaining him provides Roma with the stability they need. While Icardi is the more highly-rated striker, keeping Dzeko can be just as beneficial for Roma as if they had landed the former Inter captain. Some big leaders have left Trigoria this summer, so keeping the experienced Dzeko can help ease the transition as the new faces settle in. He already knows the surroundings and will be able to kick on straight away - whereas any new addition would have required time to settle, just like he did when he first arrived. Four years on, though, Roma is Dzeko’s home. He has already written his name in the history books thanks to his record-breaking 2016-17 and the role he played in Roma’s quest to the Champions League semi-finals the year after. Having outscored the likes of Marco Delvecchio, Rudi Voller and Giuseppe Giannini, he is now breathing down the necks of Roma’s 100 club. Dzeko has every chance of passing that landmark this season, needing just 13 more goals to bring up his century for the club. It’s a tally he should reach with ease, given that Roma are competing in the Europa League group stages. The last time he played in the competition for Roma, he finished as the tournament’s joint-top scorer, despite Spalletti’s side being eliminated with three rounds remaining. With the Giallorossi likely to get a favourable draw this time around, it would be foolish to bet against Dzeko thriving on the biggest stages for Roma once again. It's time for Dzeko to truly become a legend. 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. If there's one transfer rumour that hasn't gone down too well with fans, it is the one linking Gonzalo Higuain with a move to Roma.
Overweight, 31 years old, a high salary - several factors appear to be stacked against the arrival of the striker in Rome. Not to mention, his past with rivals Napoli and Juventus would further render him a rather unpopular figure if he was to sign up with Roma. Despite a promising start with AC Milan last year, his form derailed, as he scored just one goal in his last 12 games for the club before the deal was terminated. A red card against former club Juventus did little to change the negative perception of his time at San Siro, and it's understandable why Roma would be a little bit skeptical over the proposition of signing him - especially if it would involve Nicolo Zaniolo moving the other way. But there is a bigger question at the heart of this matter. After an underwhelming campaign, Roma find themselves in need of a rebuild, in order to return to the levels they have grown accustomed to in the past six years. As part of that project, then, do Roma need to look at the long-term or the short-term? A move for Higuain would be indicative of the latter. While his spell at Milan showed that he is far from a guaranteed source of goals these days, on his day he remains a potent finisher capable of finding the net even in games in which he hasn't been heavily involved. Contrast that to current Roma man Patrik Schick, who has struggled in the capital - which he has partially attributed to not feeling involved enough in the play. At 31 years old, of course Higuain's best days are behind him. But his career is far from over. He has two years left on his Juventus contract, which shows how far the Bianconeri believed he would keep up his form when they spent big to snatch him from Napoli. If an arrangement would involve Zaniolo heading to Turin, it would surely be a blow for the fans. The teenager was one of the standout players of last season, despite the limited expectations placed upon him. However, he blew hot and cold towards the end of the year. At times, it looked like Roma had picked up a bargain, but in reality, it's still unclear what the midfielder is really worth. Sometimes a club has to take a step back to take a step forward - taking risks in the short-term in an attempt to make an instant return to the top. That may mean potentially regrettable decisions on long-term prospects, but with the financial consequences that come with a lowly finish, sometimes the luxury of keeping hold of them isn't there. It’s an issue that was highlighted in the recently confirmed swap deal with Juventus, in which Roma acquired Leonardo Spinazzola at the expense of losing Luca Pellegrini. Many fans had high hopes for the young left-back, but the reality is that the man that the Giallorossi have brought in is a much more proven quantity at this level, and is far better equipped to be a starter. And that’s what Roma need right now - ready made talent. That said, it would be irresponsible for Roma to fill the squad with veterans. One only needs to look at how Edin Dzeko and Aleksandar Kolarov underperformed at times throughout the campaign to get a clear idea that sometimes younger blood is more effective. Hence, a blend is needed. Without a few experienced players, it may take Roma a long time to break back into the top four. But without the younger ones, any returns to the highest berths would likely be short-lived. Contrary to what many fans believe, Higuain would not be a terrible signing for Roma - as long as the salary is realistic compared to his output. However, it would be important for him to be supplemented by younger alternatives. His former teammate at Milan, Patrick Cutrone, would be perfect - an instinctive finisher, someone who can still develop but who is more than ready for a role of responsibility in a major squad. Furthermore, some signings in the past have shown that fans should not be prejudiced before their arrival. Many were critical of Davide Santon based on his time with Inter, but after he had put in some good displays for Roma, the general perception of him changed to a more positive one. Similarly, Federico Fazio was hardly the best name fans could have hoped for to alleviate the team's defensive concerns, but he soon won them over, at least in his first season, becoming their 'Comandante’. Gianluca Petrachi will need to find the right balance this summer, but the overriding message will be this - you never know how a player will perform for a club until they pull on its jersey. Higuain's might be a bit larger than those of others, but no signing should be overly criticised before a ball has been kicked. They could turn out to be just what Roma need. Following the news that Gianluca Petrachi has been appointed as Roma's new sporting director, it's time to take a look at what he did in his previous role.
When Petrachi was appointed as Torino's sporting director in 2010, the club were in Serie B, but under his guidance, they worked their way back up to the top flight, and are now regulars in the top half. They even reached the Round of 16 of the Europa League in 2014-15. One of Petrachi's key roles will be bringing new players to the club, after Roma were left with a dearth of quality by Monchi. Here, Giallorossi Yorkshire looks back at Petrachi's five best signings during his decade in Turin. 5. Danilo D'Ambrosio (2010) One of Petrachi's first moves at Torino was the acquisition of Danilo D'Ambrosio from third-tier side Juve Stabia. The full-back, 22 years old at the time, helped his new side work their way back up to the top flight, before sealing a move to Inter in January 2014 - with Petrachi taking young midfielder Marco Benassi to Torino in return. While D'Ambrosio is hardly the best player on Inter's roster, he is still a valuable member of their squad, and Petrachi's negotiation to get Benassi in return was itself a shrewd piece of business, as he was sold on to Fiorentina three years later for more than double the fee. 4. Ciro Immobile (2013) These days, Immobile is leading the line for Roma's rivals Lazio, but it was after Petrachi took him to Torino in 2013 that he really began to show his potential. A Juventus youth product, Immobile had been prolific in Serie B for Pescara in 2011-12, but other than that, had never scored more than five goals in a season. Petrachi took a gamble on him, and it paid off, as he claimed the Capocannoniere award in his sole season with the club before sealing a move to Borussia Dortmund a year later - his 22-goal campaign earning Torino a quick profit. 3. Matteo Darmian (2011) Another full-back who was given his real breakthrough at Torino, Darmian had come through the youth ranks at AC Milan before learning his trade on loan at Padova in Serie B. After playing a part-time role for Palermo in the top flight in 2010-11, Torino gave him his opportunity to become a regular starter back in the second tier. He immediately helped them gain promotion, and grew to prominence enough to make his Italy debut while at the club. In total, he made more than 150 appearances before sealing a move to Premier League giants Manchester United four years later. 2. Kamil Glik (2011) Glik, like Darmian, made his way to Torino via Palermo - where he had been signed by future Roma sporting director Walter Sabatini. However, the Pole's time on Sicily was uneventful, and he was shipped out on loan to Bari. He made just over a dozen appearances, and it was enough for Petrachi to convince Torino to make him part of their promotion project. After getting them back up to Serie A, Glik continued to establish himself as one of the league's most consistent defenders, earning the role of captain in his third season with the club, before making a move to Monaco in 2016, where he became a league champion at the first time of asking. 1. Andrea Belotti (2015) The figurehead of Torino's rise to the top half of Serie A, Belotti was plucked from Palermo in 2013. His only prior Serie A campaign had brought just six goals, but Petrachi saw his value, and paid €7.5m to take him north. Belotti was an instant hit, doubling his tally from the previous season with a dozen goals. In 2016-17, he went even better, scoring 26 goals in a season in which he was eclipsed only by Dries Mertens and Roma's own Edin Dzeko. The big clubs were circling, but Petrachi drove a hard bargain, warding off the likes of Chelsea by slapping a €100m release clause into his contract. Perhaps that was the biggest success of Petrachi's tenure at Torino - not just signing Belotti, but keeping him there. It's a stance which surely wouldn't be lost on the Roma fans still frustrated at the cheap and regular sales of some of the team's prize assets. Whether Petrachi will be able to replicate that work at Roma is another question. One only needs to look at the huge differences between the expectations of his predecessor Monchi and what was actually achieved, to take such appointments with a pinch of doubt. But Petrachi has one thing that Monchi never did, which may equip him better for success - experience in Serie A. Roma will be hoping that Petrachi proves himself to have more know-how than the Spaniard, so that he is able to complete more deals like those written about above. |
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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