Roma identifies its untouchable players: Svilar and Wesley among core pillars

Roma head coach Gian Piero Gasperini visited renowned barber Gennaro Capasso at Le Napolitain for a style change. Capasso, known on social media as Gennaro non sbaglia mai (Gennaro never misses), shared a photograph of the coach on his account with the caption: "I never talk about my clients, today I make an exception." The image quickly went viral across social platforms. Capasso has become a trusted grooming destination for numerous Roma players, including Gianluca Mancini, El Shaarawy, and Dovbyk, as well as current and former footballers from other clubs such as Paredes, Lukaku, Paulo Dybala, and José Mourinho. The barber's social media presence has made him a recognizable figure in Italian football circles, with his clientele spanning multiple Serie A clubs. While Gasperini's appearance change is cosmetic rather than tactical, the incident underscores the interconnected nature of Rome's football community and the reach of social media in amplifying even minor moments involving high-profile figures. The photo's rapid spread highlights the public interest surrounding the Roma coach and his activities beyond match preparation.

Paulo Dybala posted a message on social media on Labour Day (1 May) reflecting on work and commitment. The Roma number 21 wrote: "Happy Labour Day. It's not just about working, but giving everything every day." The post came as Dybala returned to action last Saturday against Bologna, marking his comeback from an injury sustained at the end of January after three months out. Dybala's future at Roma remains uncertain. Reports suggest his time in the Giallorossi colours may be entering its final weeks, with the likelihood of him remaining in the capital described as remote. His post appears to be a broader reflection on dedication and effort rather than a specific statement about his Roma future. The message was shared via his Instagram Stories as part of Labour Day celebrations, emphasizing the values of commitment and hard work.

Franco Tancredi, the former AS Roma goalkeeper who won the Serie A title with the club in 1982–83, visited Roma's Trigoria training ground. Tancredi played for Roma between 1977 and 1990 and also served as the club's goalkeeping coach from 1992 to 2004 (including four years with the youth setup) and again during the 2011–12 season. During his visit, he embraced head coach Gasperini, with the club sharing a photograph of the moment. As a gesture of recognition, Roma presented Tancredi with the official first-team goalkeeper shirt for the current season, numbered 1. The visit took place on May 1st as Roma prepared for their upcoming Serie A fixture against Fiorentina, scheduled for Monday, May 4th at Stadio Olimpico with kickoff at 20:45.

Marco Amelia, speaking to Il Messaggero, has praised Roma goalkeeper Mile Svilar in an interview. Amelia reportedly stated that Svilar should only leave Roma for a fee of €70 million, and suggested the club would be better served by parting with another player, Koné, rather than losing the goalkeeper. The comments reflect confidence in Svilar's value and importance to the squad during a period when Roma may face transfer decisions.

Roma is preparing for a significant squad overhaul as Financial Fair Play constraints force the club to make difficult decisions. Departures are already settled for players who have not convinced, while others seek moves elsewhere. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini wants Mancini and Cristante to form the core of his squad, with both renewals close to completion. Donyell Malen will be permanently signed for 25 million euros, and Hermoso is expected to stay after his contract extension clause is formalized. Paulo Dybala has signaled his priority is remaining at the club, with the Boca offer considered a secondary option. On the transfer list for potential sales are Koné and Ndicka at the top, followed by Matías Soulé and Mile Svilar further down the pecking order. Lorenzo Pellegrini's situation differs slightly—the club had previously offered roughly one-third of his current salary, though circumstances may now be shifting. Roma will release all other loan players and is likely to lose El Shaarawy upon contract expiration. Celik is also in advanced negotiations with other clubs, though the significant gap between the club's asking price and incoming offers means his departure is not yet confirmed. Ryan Friedkin is expected in the city for meetings with Gasperini to plan the club's future direction, with numerous topics under discussion.

Roma secured a decisive 2-0 away victory at Bologna, with the goals coming in the first half. Donyell Malen delivered an outstanding performance, scoring one goal and providing an assist. Wesley, returning from injury, proved crucial to the result, while El Aynaoui also contributed a goal and an assist—marking his first Serie A goal. Goalkeeper Mile Svilar made important saves when called upon, and the defensive trio performed solidly throughout. The win keeps Roma's Champions League ambitions alive as Juventus faced AC Milan the same evening. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini received praise from multiple newspapers for his tactical setup and team management. Midfielder Niccolò Pisilli impressed with a solid display, while the midfield and defensive structure remained compact and disciplined. The ratings across major Italian publications were relatively consistent, with Malen earning scores between 7.5 and 8, and El Aynaoui consistently rated 7.5. Wesley and Svilar also drew positive marks across the board. Gasperini himself was rated 7 to 7.5 by the publications surveyed.

The CIES (International Centre for Sports Studies) has assessed Wesley as an important asset not only for AS Roma but for Serie A as a whole. The evaluation underscores the Brazilian defender's contribution to the club and the wider Italian league. Wesley has established himself as a key player in Roma's defence under Gasperini's management. The CIES rating reflects his consistency and value within the squad, positioning him among the league's notable defensive talents.

Wesley has been ranked among the 15 most valuable players in Serie A by the CIES Observatory, a football research centre. The Brazilian midfielder is valued between €50 million and €58 million, placing him sixth on the list. He is the only Roma player to feature in this particular ranking. Ahead of Wesley are Kenan Yildiz (€122–141 million), Rasmus Hojlund (€91–106 million), Pio Esposito (€88–103 million), Santiago Castro (€61–71 million), and Pavlovic (€51–59 million). Wesley's recognition reflects his consistent and impactful performances throughout the season. The Brazilian has emerged as one of Roma's most reliable attacking midfielders, and the statistics underline his importance to the team. The ranking highlights Wesley as a key asset for the Giallorossi, with his contributions described as decisive in Roma's overall performance this campaign.

Tony D'Amico, the Atalanta sporting director, has been identified as Roma's primary target to succeed Massara in the same role. The 1980-born executive has worked closely with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini for three years at Atalanta, contributing to the club's Europa League success. D'Amico previously held positions at Hellas Verona as vice coach (2016–2018) and sporting director (2018–2022) before joining Atalanta, bringing substantial experience to the role. Roma hopes to prise D'Amico away from Atalanta before his contract expires, though the Bergamo club's ownership has not been receptive to such approaches in the past. The relationship between D'Amico and Gasperini remains strong despite some recent tensions during Atalanta's previous season, including disagreements over player recruitment such as the Wesley case. Roma's preference is to appoint an Italian sporting director with established credentials, which D'Amico satisfies. Other candidates remain in contention, including Manna and Sogliano—the latter also having worked with Gasperini at Genova. Fabio Paratici is mentioned as a longer-term possibility but has not been formally approached; he has personal connections to Rome through family ties. Giovanni Giuntoli, another name circulated, is expected to join Marseille instead. The appointment of Roma's next sporting director represents a significant structural decision as the club reshapes its upper management.