GIALLOROSSI YORKSHIRE BLOG
Personally, I was a little bit disappointed when Roma sold Lorenzo Pellegrini to Sassuolo on 30th June 2015. Then captain of the Primavera, and having made one substitute Serie A appearance the previous season, perhaps he deserved a chance to showcase his abilities with the first team, and then potentially be loaned out the year after. I was pleased, though, that Roma retained a buyback clause on the Rome-born man. I hoped that one day it would be exercised, and Pellegrini would return to the club he spent eight years of his youth career at. Time has shown that the move to Sassuolo has clearly benefitted the player. Pellegrini has now become an Italy Under 21 international, and this season has contributed eight goals and seven assists for the Neroverdi across all competitions. Thanks to his form, he is now subject to interest from some of Europe's biggest clubs. Enter the buyback clause? Should Roma exercise the buyback clause for Pellegrini this summer, it remains to be seen what will be done with the player. According to calciomercato.com, Pellegrini's agent met with representatives of AC Milan on 28th April, "flattered" by interest from them. So will Roma be willing to listen to the Rossoneri? Notably, a quick profit would be turned on the player, with the buyback clause believed to be in the region of €8-10m, and Milan's resultant bid expected to be much higher. However, president James Pallotta has said he would like to see more youngsters breaking into the first team at Roma, and the club maybe needs a greater Italian identity, with only four Italians in the first team at present. Pellegrini could be the starting point to solving both these problems. It would be good to see Pellegrini return to Roma, but if he did, he would have to negotiate less playing time in comparison to what he has now. Kevin Strootman and Leandro Paredes also play in his position, not to mention Daniele De Rossi, who hopefully will extend his contract with the Giallorossi beyond the current season. Despite this competition, Pellegrini has certainly shown this season he can compete at the highest level, and he would undoubtedly be eager to make an impact upon a return to his hometown club. So what shall be done with Lorenzo Pellegrini? Will Roma bring him back to the Stadio Olimpico, or will we see another Andrea Bertolacci-style deal where he is sold on to another club after returning? The latter perhaps looks more likely, but nothing is for certain. It will depend on the desires of new sporting director Monchi - who does have a history of helping young players progress through their club into the first team at Sevilla, such as Sergio Ramos, Jesús Navas and José Antonio Reyes - and whoever the manager of Roma will be next season. The club is famous for its homegrown players and the impact they make at the club. Unfortunately, Roma will soon face a future without Francesco Totti and Daniele De Rossi, leaving a massive Roman-shaped void in the team that will be too big for Alessandro Florenzi to fill alone. As the club look to the future, could Pellegrini be an answer?
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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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October 2019
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