The Latest AS Roma News
Daniele De Rossi has signed a new two year contract with AS Roma.
The 33-year-old midfielder's deal was due to expire at the end of next month, and there were fears he may move to the MLS, or even another club in Serie A. However, the Italian international's future is now secure at Roma until 2019. He will, of course, be the club's new captain, following the conclusion of Francesco Totti's Roma career on Sunday. De Rossi made his debut for Roma in 2001, and is the club's second all-time leading appearance maker with 561 games for the Giallorossi. The fantastic news comes just two days after his fellow midfielder Kevin Strootman also extended his stay in the capital. Whether De Rossi will play as much over the next two years is unclear, but this season he was influential, showing his leadership abilities and experience on countless occasions. His renewal is certainly a good thing for Roma.
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AS Roma have announced today that manager Luciano Spalletti has left the club.
A man who has divided opinion during his tenure in the capital, the 58-year-old brought stability to the club, but failed to manage the end of Francesco Totti's career well, which will probably be the legacy he leaves of his second spell at Roma. He guided the club to second place in Serie A this season, meaning automatic qualification to the group stages of the Champions League is secured for his successor. Given the form of Napoli this year, that was no easy achievement. Along with that came a record points tally and record number of goals scored, although the team didn't adopt a ruthless winning mentality, dropping points against the likes of Cagliari, Empoli and Sampdoria. Had the team broken out of third gear on a few more occasions this season, Spalletti could easily have been looking at a Scudetto, and a contract extension. He is expected to reunite with former Roma sporting director Walter Sabatini at Inter Milan. Eusebio Di Francesco appears to be the favourite to replace him at the Olimpico. Expect more to follow about Spalletti and his successor on Giallorossi Yorkshire this week. Yesterday, less than 24 hours after the final whistle had blown in Francesco Totti's final ever Roma game, the Giallorossi captain was inducted into the club's Hall Of Fame.
Set up in 2012, the Hall of Fame commemorates those who have achieved great things with Roma, featuring players such as Agostino Di Bartolomei, Bruno Conti, Aldair, and Totti's icon, Giuseppe Giannini. Totti skipped the usual voting process to be immediately inducted, given his popularity at the club and the number of records he holds. When Totti entered the pitch against Genoa on Sunday it marked his 786th appearance in a Roma shirt; no player in history has made more for the club. The club's announcement also pointed out that Totti would be Roma's all-time leading appearance maker even if only the games he played as captain were taken into account (570), having held the role since he was 22. He is also the club's all-time record goalscorer with 307 goals. In terms of Serie A, no player in history has scored more goals with one club (250), more penalties (71), more braces (46), or has scored in more consecutive seasons than Totti's 23. Il Capitano said he was "profoundly honoured" to be recognised and admitted into the Hall of Fame. It's the least he deserves. Fresh from a man of the match performance against Genoa yesterday, Dutch midfielder Kevin Strootman has signed a new long-term contract with Roma.
Strootman has consistently affirmed his commitment to Roma, despite rumours linking him with a move to Inter Milan or Manchester United, because he feels grateful to the club for standing by him during his succession of injury troubles. And now the pen has been put to paper on a new deal which will see him stay at the Stadio Olimpico until 2022. The 27-year-old has announced that he wants to win trophies with Roma during that time. It is fantastic and important for Roma that one of the club's key performers this season, and an experienced professional, will be retained in the future. Strootman is the kind of player a team can be built around, and he will be sure to have another excellent season as he begins to enter his prime. Good things await with Kevin Strootman's future secure at Roma. Unfortunately, amid the jubilation of securing automatic Champions League qualification, and the celebrations of Francesco Totti's remarkable career, Roma's season ended yesterday in the same way it started: with a cruciate ligament injury to a left back.
Emerson Palmieri has had a fantastic season for the Giallorossi, so much so that the failure to re-sign Lucas Digne in the summer doesn't seem as disappointing as it did at the time. Sadly, his final match of the season against Genoa was cut short in the first half, as he was substituted off after awkwardly jarring his left knee. His replacement, Mario Rui, also began the season on the sidelines after rupturing his Anterior Cruciate Ligament, and the same diagnosis has been given to Emerson following tests last night. He underwent surgery this morning to reconstruct the damaged ligament. The injury comes at a costly time for the full back, who had just been named in Gian Piero Ventura's Italy squad after switching allegiances this year. He will now face up to half a year on the sidelines, meaning he is almost certain to miss the start of next season. Hopefully Emerson makes a full recovery and can return to action as soon as possible in 2017/18. Regardless, his standout performances this season will be remembered gratefully by fans. Following his goal in Roma's 3-2 win over Genoa on Sunday, Edin Džeko has been confirmed as Serie A's top scorer for the 2016/17 season.
Džeko's tally of 29 league goals hasn't been reached by a Roma player for 86 years, and marks a stark contrast to his form last season, during which a false nine system was often preferred. However, this season he worked hard to accomplish a mission, to rediscover his goalscoring capabilities. A full pre-season with Roma certainly helped, and his focussed mindset allowed him to succeed between August and May. Besides the goals, he has stood out for other qualities this season too. He has worked tirelessly from the front to help his team defensively, consistently tracking back and dropping deeper, both to assist out of possession and to find space to get the ball. Some of his goals this season have been incredible, and his position at the top of the league's scoring charts is no mean feat given the form of the likes of Dries Mertens, Andrea Belotti and Gonzalo Higuain this season. As the club's only recognised number nine this year, Džeko stepped up to the plate and didn't disappoint his team. Statistically, he has even been named WhoScored.com's Serie A Player of the Season, with an average rating of 7.85 out of 10. He ranked highest in the league for shots, and second highest for aerial duels won. WhoScored gave him man of the match on 11 occasions this season. Congratulations to Edin for his strong mentality and desire to succeed with Roma. His goalscoring achievements this year are a source of pride for everyone involved with the club. Reports are indicating that Roma will be targetting Benfica centre back Victor Lindelof in the summer.
The name will be familiar to English fans, as he was heavily linked with Manchester United in January. Lindelof is a 22-year-old Swedish international who helped his side win their domestic league title this season. Whilst it is good that Roma may be able to compete in the transfer market with heavyweights such as the Red Devils, the proposed transfer also raises a couple of questions. Firstly, in accordance with Financial Fair Play, Roma may have to sell a key player to be able to afford Lindelof, whose reported value in January was £38m. This may well be another defender, with Kostas Manolas continually being linked to Inter (who also are interested in Kevin Strootman and Radja Nainggolan), and Antonio Rudiger also being wanted by many top clubs. Secondly, there may be cheaper options to replace Manolas or Rudiger, who could be as talented as Lindelof. Sassuolo defender Francesco Acerbi, for example, this week highlighted his intention to leave his club in the summer. The Italian may be a good option for Roma (certainly if his current manager Eusebio Di Francesco takes over in the capital), although nothing has been reported of links with the player as of yet. Lindelof - who has eleven caps for his country - would be a relatively high profile signing though, and a statement of intent for a strong transfer window, as Roma enter a greatly important time of transition. This summer, if the basics are nailed, and top signings are made, could finally set Roma up for a convincingly competitive future. It's not quite worked out for Juan Manuel Iturbe since he became Roma's second ever most expensive signing in 2014. He struggled to find goals, and form in general, after arriving with a reputation of potentially being the next Lionel Messi. Somehow, somewhere, something went wrong.
He was loaned out to Premier League side AFC Bournemouth last January and managed just the two league appearances, a baffling fact when you consider his quality, and that of the team he joined. Again, this season, he struggled for a run of appearances in the first half of the season, being moved on to Torino in January. Once again, he hasn't quite hit the ground running in Turin, but seems to have been doing reasonably well when he has played. Recently, he scored his first goal in a long time, in Torino's draw with Sampdoria, something which clearly meant a lot to a player who had promised so much in the past. He has also contributed three assists in his spell with the Granata. Iturbe's most valuable aspect may be his work rate. He is a hard working player who gives his all in every match, even if the end product isn't quite there. He is also a good dribbler of the ball. Roma, for the second season in a row, will have a difficult decision to make on his future when his loan expires in the summer. Reports from Tuttosport suggest that Iturbe may well be staying at Roma for 2017/18 - but Diego Perotti may be going the other way. Roma still owe Genoa €9m following Perotti's initial loan spell in the capital and subsequent permanent signing. It is suggested that Roma would be willing to let Torino pay that instead, and take Iturbe back. Something doesn't add up though. Unlike Iturbe, Perotti has been outstanding since he arrived at Roma last January. He has consistently got his name on the score sheet, with seven goals and six assists in 30 Serie A games this year, and has shown adaptability to play as a winger, midfielder or false nine. Perhaps the best thing about his game is his ability with either foot, being able to dazzle full backs as he either races to the byline, or cuts inside onto his slightly stronger right foot. Finances aside, why would Roma want rid of him? In an episode of the brilliant Szczesny Show, courtesy of Roma TV, the Polish goalkeeper confirmed that Perotti was the player who has surprised him most since he has been in Rome. And Szczesny would certainly not be alone in his amazement at the winger's technical skill. Apart from Totti, obviously, there are few more skilful players in the current Giallorossi crop than the Argentine. His penalty taking is also ridiculously good, as he consistently freezes the goalkeeper out in a reversal of the typical keeper-on-taker mind games. He stares the goalkeeper out, deciding at the last second which way he is going, leaving the keeper confused, startled, clueless. I have long praised Perotti this season. Unfortunately, a couple of muscle injuries suffered in January and February had pegged him back a little from his earlier season form, but recent performances show he has recovered all his greatest attributes. Until another injury forced him to be substituted, against AC Milan earlier this month he was phenomenal. I am also a fan of Iturbe, but, from his point of view, I would question whether a third straight season of trying at Roma and then being loaned out if it hasn't worked would be beneficial for his career. He is at a crucial age where he needs to settle down, put a string of great performances together, and recapture the glory of his Verona days. Maybe Roma could sell him, and retain a buyback clause, as they have with Antonio Sanabria and Lorenzo Pellegrini, in the case that he should return to his best at a new club. Is it worth a go with him for one more season though? It is a difficult question that will depend on Monchi and Roma's next manager, needless to say, and their opinions of him. He is a player who could be so much greater than he is; he just needs to find that consistent game time to help him progress. AS Roma have announced today that 18-year-old Primavera striker Marco Tumminello has signed a contract with the club until 2022.
It has been a successful couple of years for Roma's Primavera, winning the TIM Cup this season and the Campionato Primavera in 2015/16. Tumminello's contract is another good step for the youth setup. Tumminello had scored 41 goals in 60 Primavera appearances, including 28 in 28 this season. He made his first team debut against Chievo Verona as a substitute last season, and was featured in the first team matchday squad for Roma's game against Juventus on Sunday. Hopefully, he will go on to achieve great things with Roma's first team in the next five years. Nearly twelve months ago, chaos ensued when Miralem Pjanic, a Roma player of five seasons, handed in a transfer request, naming rivals Juventus as his next destination.
Pjanic was subject to quite a few boos and jeers, to say the least, upon his return to the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday, as Roma put in an excellent battling performance to beat the Turin club 3-1. It's certainly not the only time that Juventus have attempted to exert their dominance on the Italian league by buying their closest competitions' key players. Rumours surfaced recently that they want to bid for Radja Nainggolan - despite the player recently saying how much he hates Juve. Players such as Mirko Vucinic have also made the Roma to Juventus switch this side of 2010. But now, Roma might just be getting one player in return from the Old Lady. As it appears the club have given up on signing Franck Kessie, who looks destined for Milan, the Giallorossi have been linked with a move for Juventus' Mario Lemina. The 23-year-old Gabon international started against Roma on Sunday, one of 18 appearances in Serie A this season after his move from Marseille was made permanent last summer, and scored the Bianconeri's only goal. The links were revealed by La Repubblica, who suggest that Daniele Baselli of Torino is seen as an alternative if Juventus are unwilling to sell the midfielder, or Udinese's Jakub Jankto. So maybe, for once, Roma might just get something in return out of Juventus. That is, of course, if they are prepared to let Lemina leave in the summer. |
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