Italian Media All Making Same Point About ‘True Striker’ Evan Ferguson After Roma Brace At Celtic
Ferguson answered his critics with a superb brace against Celtic.
Giuseppe Labellarte
Updated on 12 December 2025
The Italian media have all been making the same point about Roma striker Evan Ferguson after his Europa League heroics against Celtic.
Evan Ferguson takes heed of Roma head coach’s comments
Ferguson’s time at Roma hasn’t been plain sailing for the most part.
Speculation has been doing the rounds claiming that Roma are considering ending his loan stint from Brighton.
More recently, Roma coach Gian Piero Gasperini criticised Ferguson, saying his performances and attitude must improve.
Ferguson delivered the perfect response: he scored twice as Roma ran out 3-0 winners at Celtic in the Europa League on Thursday night.
The Italian press had also been critical of Ferguson since his move to the Stadio Olimpico.
However, his display against the Scottish giants rightly led to a U-turn by Italy’s media.
Evan Ferguson described as a ‘true centre-forward’
The general consensus was that Ferguson’s performance was that of a true striker.
Corriere dello Sport gave Ferguson an 8 out of 10 rating for his efforts on the day.
They wrote: “Gasp’s reprimand paid off, and here’s the real Ferguson.
“The incredible talent who made the entire Premier League shine two years ago.
“A post and a brace: a hundred more of these days, Gasp wishes for him.”
Likewise, Tuttomercatoweb gave Ferguson a rating of 8 out of 10.
“Gasperini had said on the eve of the match that he needed to raise his game, that he expected more from him,” they wrote.
“His response? A post and a fine brace in Europe, with two goals from a true centre-forward, and a clear message: I want to be the No. 9 of this team.”
“VAMOS” 🐺#ASRoma | #UEL | #CelticRoma pic.twitter.com/GhIn0Y4H08
— AS Roma (@OfficialASRoma) December 11, 2025
Tuttosport, meanwhile, went with a 7.5 out of 10 rating for Ferguson.
“Finally, a performance from a true centre-forward,” they wrote.
“He elbows, provides support, and, most importantly, scores.
“Hits the post and scores twice: attacking the goal, then stopping and shooting with a lightning-fast shot.”
Finally, Eurosport went with a rating of 7.5 out of 10.
“He played the away match in Scotland with great sacrifice and self-sacrifice,” they wrote.
“A brace like a true striker, sought after and deserved – the second was a small masterpiece with his back to goal.”
How Gian Piero Gasperini reacted to Evan Ferguson’s display at Celtic
Gasperini was impressed with Ferguson, describing his performance as “great” at his post-match press conference.
He also called for patience over the 21-year-old’s trajectory, reiterating that he is a young player and has much to learn.
“During the game. he did what he often does in training. He’s a young lad and we have to be patient,” Gasperini said.
“His second goal was beautiful. His performance was great, and it’s important that he plays with this spirit and shows his qualities.”
Roma are reportedly looking to strengthen their front line further in the January transfer window.
Joshua Zirkzee is a key target for Roma, according to reports. Roma have also been linked with Lorenzo Lucca.
It remains to be seen whether Ferguson could end up making way for any new targets and returning to England.
However, with displays like that against Celtic, Gasperini may well decide to keep him around.
Giuseppe Labellarte
Giuseppe Labellarte is a sports journalist with over a decade of professional experience in the industry. His main professional expertise is in soccer. Prior to joining FootItalia, he worked for the likes of Sports Mole, TBR Football, the Chelsea Chronicle and numerous other sites, along with having bylines in the likes of the Nottingham Post. He holds degrees in Journalism and International Relations.
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