Roma’s Transfer Divide: Tension Between Gasperini And Massara With Ranieri ‘Keeping Ship Afloat’
Gasperini is unhappy with the club's January business.
The extent of the transfer tension that has left Roma divided has now been laid bare.
Gian Piero Gasperini Unhappy With Roma Transfers
Gian Piero Gasperini questioned the club’s approach in January and is unhappy with their business.
While the Giallorossi pursued contrasting targets, they extended their winless run on the pitch after losing 1-o to Udinese – a defeat which dropped them out of the Champions League spots in Serie A.
Despite being tipped to challenge for the Scudetto this season, they now find themselves 12 points off the pace, and frosty relations behind the scenes have certainly not helped matters.
Roma brought in four signings, recruiting Robinio Vaz, Donyell Malen, Bryan Zaragoza and Lorenzo Venturino, but Gasperini is still understood to be dissatisfied with their business.
The 68-year-old had wanted more experienced players ready to slot into his starting XI, per Calciomercato.
The same report claims he had wanted Giacomo Raspadori over Zaragoza, and had prioritised the arrival of Joshua Zirkzee from Manchester United, instead of Marseille talent Vaz.
In fact, the only name he had agreed on was Malen, who joined on loan from Aston Villa.
Gasperini had selected his targets with a top-four finish and a Europa League push in mind. However, his wishes did not match up to the financial limits imposed by the Friedkin family ownership.
Claudio Ranieri’s Crucial Role
Sporting director Ricky Massara is also forced to work within these parameters, but this has resulted in tension with the head coach.
Claudio Ranieri, now a senior advisor at the Stadio Olimpico, is ‘trying to keep the ship afloat’. Indeed, the differences between Gasperini and Massara have seemingly thrust Ranieri into an awkward mediator role.
After Roma’s defeat by Udinese, Gasperini voiced his unhappiness with the lack of unity on transfers.
“I work with what I’m given,” he said. “This will be the team through and through, and we’ll work on it.
“I didn’t think we’d have all this difficulty finding players in December. Malen was a great signing, he’ll give us a hand, like Zaragoza. Am I coaching an Under-23 team? But come to an agreement.
“One guy asks me to talk about the Champions League, another about the Under-23s. We need to come to an agreement, or we’ll always be unhappy.”
Dan Davis
Dan is an experienced sports journalist and part-time lecturer. An expert on Serie A and Italian football, he has produced content for the likes of the Daily Mail, Reach PLC, GiveMeSport, FourFourTwo and GRV Media. While Channel 4's iconic Football Italia was a bit before his time, the nostalgia - and pastries - fuelled his love of all things Calcio.
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