Gasperini on Roma's transfer market: three or four reinforcements will be needed

Gian Piero Gasperini, coach of Roma, appears at a press conference in Trigoria after the first week of training camp. The coach addressed several topics, from the transfer market to ambitions for the upcoming season, including the departure of Zeki Celik to Juventus.

The coach first wanted to bid farewell to the Turkish full-back: “This is also a somewhat particular year, with the World Cup in the middle. The month of June was characterized by a sort of paralysis, also due to the changeover and the arrival of the director. Now, however, it seems to me that everyone is starting to move. Celik? I can clearly thank him for everything he did last year, for his availability and for his performance. From a footballing point of view, however, I am convinced that we will strengthen and that perhaps we will even be better.”

Among the names followed by the Giallorossi is also Carlos Augusto from Inter. On the subject of seasonal objectives, Gasperini clarified: “When we talk about improving, it doesn’t necessarily mean immediately setting that goal. It would already be important to manage to stabilize ourselves in the upper areas of the standings. Then, from my experience, if you manage to stay at the top with continuity and with solid foundations, the moment comes when you can aim for something more important. At this moment, however, the immediate goal is to stabilize ourselves as high as possible and improve further. Last year the team achieved a definitely deserved result, even if I dare say that perhaps it went a bit beyond what the initial expectations were.”

On the transfer campaign, the coach from Grugliasco explained: “My thought has always been the same: we need those famous three or four quality signings. Compared to the squad that finished the championship, however, we also have to consider the players who were on loan and have left. I think there were five. Consequently, those three or four additions should have partly replaced them, but with operations done in a certain way. Then, of course, you have to adapt to situations. If a player leaves, you have to replace him, otherwise you can’t complete the squad. As I said before, Celik has left and we will definitely intervene to replace him in that role.”

On the perceived delay compared to other teams, Gasperini concluded: “At the end of last season, we all hoped to start preparations with a few more players. We knew very well, however, that with the World Cup many players would be busy and would therefore arrive in dribs and drabs. It seems to me that, with very rare exceptions, this situation concerns almost all teams. The market, during this period, has remained fairly blocked for everyone. We have lost several players who had arrived on loan, so perhaps we are numerically shorter than other teams and first of all we have to replace them. Now, however, it seems to me that the market is starting to open up a bit for everyone. Clearly, we would like to be further ahead, but we are still in line with the current timing of the market.”