There’s no question about the skills of the coach from Grugliasco - he has consistently been among the top three managers in Italian football for several years. Indeed, he started laying the groundwork for something remarkable even before his time in Bergamo, particularly during his stint at Genoa.
In Liguria, the goal was never to win trophies, but to scout talent, create a system, and assist young players in reaching their full potential, ultimately transforming them into valuable assets the club could sell for profit. Gasperini has consistently nurtured emerging talents, enabling clubs to generate capital gains for reinvestment.
Atalanta flourished under his leadership, alongside sporting director Giovanni Sartori. Numerous players thrived under Gasperini but struggled to replicate that success elsewhere. The first two names that come to mind are Gagliardini and Cristante, but the list is extensive.
Talent Development
Gasperini is a talent developer. Sometimes he refines it, other times he builds it from scratch, and he does so through tireless effort. In Bergamo, he not only nurtured talent but also brought home trophies, even winning the Europa League. That would have seemed unimaginable a decade ago, perhaps even five years ago.
With all this in mind, the question is no longer “Is Gasperini a top coach?” Without a doubt, he is. The real question now is: Can he achieve similar success at AS Roma?
Some might answer, “Why not?”, which is a fair point. However, the reality is that in Rome, many promising ideas have failed to take hold. Ambitious projects have ended prematurely, often due to poor organization and a lack of competence within the club’s management. A case in point? We must not overlook the situation with Luis Enrique.
He was brought to the capital and quickly consumed by the media and the fans, primarily because the board, led by Franco Baldini and Walter Sabatini, failed to shield him or provide him with the peace needed to work. A tremendous waste of talent. He was left to manage a defense featuring Rodrigo Taddei (as a right-back), Aleandro Rosi, Simon Kjaer, Gabriel Heinze, and José Ángel, among others.
It’s difficult to even read that aloud, let alone comment on it. Unsurprisingly, the project fell apart, along with the aspirations of an entire fanbase.
Roma has also been sluggish in the transfer market. At any moment, deals for Richard Rios, Wesley, and Evan Ferguson might be completed, but pre-season started without any new signings at Trigoria.
That poses a challenge, particularly for a coach like Gasperini, whose demanding approach necessitates significant early work on players’ physical conditioning (and more). His strategies are intricate, and Roma’s management, currently composed of Ricky Massara and Claudio Ranieri, is not providing him with the necessary support.
Key Areas for Improvement
At least not at this stage. The two critical positions he specifically requested reinforcements for are right-back, aiming for Wesley from Flamengo, and midfield, with Rios of Palmeiras, high on the priority list.
The club is also looking for a striker who can elevate the performance of Artem Dovbyk. The candidate appears to be Evan Ferguson, a young talent who now needs to overcome a challenging period and regain the promise he once exhibited.
Additionally, Gasperini will need to bolster the defense and bring out the best in Paulo Dybala and Lorenzo Pellegrini. Both could be crucial next season, but with long injury absences, Pellegrini is still out, meaning they’ll require extra effort to get back in shape. Financial Fair Play regulations imply that Roma will need to sell in order to buy, without weakening the team, a task easier said than done.
There’s a lot of work ahead for Massara and Ranieri, and time is limited. Once they’ve fulfilled their responsibilities, it will be Gasperini’s turn. However, for the upcoming season to be successful, the club must firmly support him, regardless of initial results, or if a key player clashes with his methods.
They must back him unconditionally. Just as Atalanta did in the past (for instance, with El Papu). Gasperini is a top-tier coach, but he is not easy to collaborate with.
He demands a lot from players, staff, and the club. Yet, if the right conditions are established, Roma could emerge as a serious contender for a top-four finish in next season’s Serie A. It all begins with securing those initial signings. Roma fans and Gasperini are eagerly awaiting.
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