Gasperini’s undiplomatic approach could see Roma suffer for transfer failures

Originally posted on Football Italia | By Susy Campanale | Last updated Sep 3, 2025 8:26 AM ET

Gian Piero Gasperini has never been a coach to keep quiet when unhappy, so Roma are bracing themselves after their failure to get several players he wanted.

The tactician walked away from Atalanta in part because he felt that he had achieved all he could in Bergamo, a side that builds talents up and then sells them.

He was hoping that the draw of the Stadio Olimpico could allow him to work with players who were already to a degree established, but was not accustomed to dealing with their Financial Fair Play restrictions.

La Gazzetta dello Sport warn that Gasperini’s mood can turn very quickly and diplomacy is not one of his strengths, so if the media keep asking him about those well-publicised and failed transfers, he could spill the beans in public.

Gasperini won’t keep quiet about Roma dissatisfaction

Jadon Sancho was the ultimate example, as the deal was agreed with Manchester United for weeks, only for him to string them along and ultimately join Aston Villa instead, who will be their opponents in the Europa League.

If the tension is between coach Gasperini and director of sport Frederic Massara, then the peacemaker can be Claudio Ranieri, the bridge linking the old and new guard.

In the meantime, Roma are left with a tactician who said repeatedly “the attacking players are decisive” and yet did not get any of the characteristics he was looking for, especially on the wings.

Could it lead to Gasperini adjusting his preferred 3-4-3 system to make do with these shortcomings?

The other problem over the summer for Roma was Richard Rios, who went to Benfica for a figure only slightly higher than the final Giallorossi bid.

Instead, Lorenzo Pellegrini and Tommaso Baldanzi remain, knowing they are nowhere near first choices in this squad.

Artem Dovbyk already made it clear last season he thrives on confidence, and that was hit even harder by hearing he was not Gasperini’s ideal centre-forward.

The plans will already be afoot for January, but if Gasp doesn’t get his reinforcements then either, it could spell trouble for this Roma project.

This article first appeared on Football Italia and was syndicated with permission.

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