Roma Monitoring Greek Striker Tetteh for Summer Transfer

Tensions have emerged at Roma between head coach Gasperini and sporting director Massara over winter transfer target Robinio Vaz. Gasperini reportedly believes Vaz needs to gain experience away from the club rather than join Roma's squad immediately. The disagreement reflects differing views on how to best develop the player at this stage of his career. Details remain unclear regarding where Vaz might be sent to gain experience or the broader context of Roma's winter transfer strategy.

Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini is planning a significant restructuring of Roma's medical department and wants to bring in Riccardo Del Vescovo, whom he worked with over the past three years at Atalanta. Del Vescovo was instrumental in Atalanta's historic Europa League victory in 2024. The appointment would represent a return to Trigoria for Del Vescovo, who previously served Roma from 2013 to 2019, initially as head of youth sector medical services and later as first-team medical coordinator. Del Vescovo's potential return carries historical baggage. In 2019, following his departure from Roma, he was implicated in an investigation that revealed internal unrest within the club's dressing room. A letter from Ed Lippie, the club's fitness coach and Pallotta's trusted aide, identified Del Vescovo—alongside physiotherapist Damiano Stefanini—as a key figure in advocating for Roma's "de-Tottification." The investigation detailed senior players' demands for changes to the squad, with particular focus on removing Francesco Totti from influence. Del Vescovo denied the claims at the time, stating he had never spoken to journalists and maintained his loyalty to the club. With Ranieri recently departed and Massara's exit confirmed, Gasperini has gained substantial control over Roma's direction. Complicating matters, the Friedkin family is reportedly considering bringing Totti back into the organization—potentially reviving tensions from 2019. Del Vescovo, who holds specialist qualifications in sports medicine and diagnostic imaging, has since worked with Empoli, Verona, and Atalanta, and previously consulted for several major clubs including Juventus, Milan, Lazio, and PSG.

Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has reportedly expressed harsh criticism of French striker Robinio Vaz, suggesting the player should spend two years competing in Serie B. Vaz, a 2007-born forward, arrived at Roma in January from Marseille in a deal brokered by sporting director Massara for a fee exceeding €20 million. The signing has become a point of contention between Gasperini and the club's management. The tension between Gasperini and Massara extends beyond Vaz to broader transfer strategy. Gasperini rejected several proposed targets including Hojlund, Rowe, and Boga, while also disagreeing over players who did arrive. The coach reportedly wanted an immediately available striker to strengthen a severely depleted attacking department, which has heavily relied on Donyell Malen in recent months. Vaz's arrival appears to have fallen short of Gasperini's standards for an immediate first-team contributor. The disagreement over Vaz reflects deeper friction within Roma's hierarchy regarding transfer decisions and squad planning. As a young prospect, the French forward was positioned as a long-term investment by Massara, but Gasperini's assessment suggests the player requires significant development before competing at Roma's level.