Gian Piero Gasperini Adds Fuel To Evan Ferguson Exit Rumors With Damning Paulo Dybala Statement

Evan Ferguson has been left questioning his Roma future once again after Gian Piero Gasperini brutally compared the Irishman to Paulo Dybala.

Gasperini Labels Paulo Dybala A Higher Quality Player Than Ferguson

The Giallorossi manager has been very honest during his run in the Italian capital and no player has been exposed to this more than Evan Ferguson.

After joining the Italian giants on loan from Brighton in the summer, many expected Ferguson to become a cult hero in Rome and bring an end to his recent struggles.

However, the 21-year-old has only managed to score once in 12 Serie A appearances and Roma are now looking into a deal for Manchester United star Joshua Zirkzee.

Ferguson’s struggles in Italy have been noticed by Gian Piero Gasperini and the Roma boss took an interesting approach when trying to boost the Irishman’s confidence.

In the build-up to Roma’s league clash against Genoa, Gasperini decided to compare Ferguson to his Roma teammate Paulo Dybala – making a damning statement over the difference in quality.

Gasperini said: “Dybala? We’re talking about a player of the highest possible level, and the discussion was only about him. The decision with Dybala and Ferguson comes from the fact that Dybala is a higher-quality player, and I will confirm that.

“Obviously, the first step is to get him back to feeling his best, and finding the best set-up. There’s no direct comparison with Ferguson: It’s difficult to come across another player of Dybala’s quality. If he has problems, there aren’t really any like-for-like replacements.” 

Although there is some truth in the statement, Ferguson may be left questioning the faith his manager has shown and the 21-year-old could be heading back to England in 2026.

Evan Ferguson Considering Premier League Return

Roma are unlikely to sign Ferguson on a permanent basis following his poor start to the season, especially with the buy-option sitting at €38-€40 million.

This means that the 21-year-old will be looking for a new place to call home next-year and Ferguson has already attracted interest from multiple sides in the United Kingdom.

The Giallorossi are willing to cut Ferguson’s loan deal short in January, but this will only occur if the Italian side can bring in a suitable replacement.

Failing this, Roma will keep a hold of the Irishman until the end of this season, before he heads back to Brighton in search of a fresh challenge.

Gasperini will be aware of his side’s recent injury concerns, with Lorenzo Pellegrini set to miss multiple matches and this could see Ferguson stay in Rome.

The youngster has caught the eye at Nottingham Forest, Fulham and Sunderland, while also being heavily linked with a move to Scottish giants Celtic.