Roma's Young Prospects in Limbo as Club Shifts Strategy Under New Sporting Director
Transfer News·23 June 2026·3h ago

Roma's Young Prospects in Limbo as Club Shifts Strategy Under New Sporting Director

Source: Forza Roma

AS Roma has fundamentally altered its approach to recruitment following the departure of former sporting director Massara and the appointment of Gian Piero Gasperini as head coach. Young prospects acquired for future development—including Robinio Vaz, Ziolkowski, Ghilardi, Venturino, and Ferguson—are now considered surplus to requirements. The club has signaled these players may depart, either permanently or on loan, as Gasperini prioritizes immediate-impact signings over long-term investments.

Gasperini's vision emphasizes players ready to contribute immediately rather than prospects requiring development time. Ziolkowski, a Polish defender, has reportedly been rejected multiple times by the coach and could leave permanently, with Nottingham reportedly interested at a valuation of 20 million euros. Similarly, Vaz, a French forward, no longer fits the profile of a reliable backup to Donyell Malen. The club has also rejected Bosnian midfielder Alajebgovic (class 2007), whom Massara had long tracked, with Gasperini deeming him too inexperienced despite interest from Bayer Leverkusen at 35 million euros.

Roma's new sporting director D'Amico is recalibrating the transfer strategy to align with Gasperini's demands for quality and readiness rather than raw potential. Targets like Mason Greenwood and Molina represent this shift—experienced international players capable of performing on Europe's biggest stages. With Roma now competing in the Champions League, the club believes there is no margin for experimental signings.

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Testo Originale / Source Text

Machine-scraped Italian — paste into Google Translate for a full read.

Il futuro può aspettare. Ora c'è un presente da costruire. E si chiama Champions Federico Grimaldi 23 giugno - 11:02 Roma e il settlement agreement: perché è meglio non rimandare C’era una volta una Roma 'baby' che sognava. Il 'padre' era Massara e i suoi colpi di calciomercato in prospettiva avevano portato una ventata d’aria diversa al club giallorosso. Diversa, non nuova. Perché dopo 365 giorni è cambiato tutto. Obiettivi, prospetti, profili valutati e soprattutto il ds. Massara non c’è più. Ora c’è il nuovo corso D’Amico. E tutti quegli acquisti tra estate e gennaio non sono più una priorità in casa Roma. Qui non si parla di Wesley, Malen o El Aynaoui, giocatori che rappresentano il presente e il futuro della squadra. Ma di quei prospetti presi per la Roma del domani. E non sono pochi, anzi. Il primo che viene in mente è Robinio Vaz. Poi Ziolkowski e Ghilardi. Con una porta ancora socchiusa, anche se ormai quasi chiusa, per i prestiti di Venturino e Ferguson. Quasi tutti con la valigia in mano, tra chi è già partito e chi è pronto a salutare. Anche solo in prestito. Le idee della nuova Roma sono chiare: più giocatori pronti, meno scommesse. Nel mercato come nella vita. Getty Images Robinio Vaz e Ziolkowski, un futuro in uscita Il futuro è importante. Ma quando si pensa troppo a quello che un giorno accadrà, si perde di vista il punto focale. Si chiama presente, e conta più di tutto quello che verrà. Perché la Roma, per tornare definitivamente ai vertici del calcio italiano, deve pensare a oggi. A ciò che succede nel 2026. Non c’è tempo per guardare altrove. I baby portano prospettive rosee, ma hanno bisogno di tempo. E a volte ne serve anche tanto. Due esempi su tutti: Robinio Vaz e Ziolkowski. Giocatori presi per la Roma che verrà, ma che oggi non sono più sicuri di essere l’ossatura del futuro. Il motivo è chiaro: Gasperini vuole profili pronti. Il francese ha dimostrato di non essere ancora pronto per essere il vice Malen o un valore aggiunto. Non ancora. Il suo tempo verrà, ma non è adesso. Non è oggi. Il polacco, invece, è stato più volte bocciato da Gasp, contro il Plzen e nell’ultima gara contro il Verona. Potrebbe partire definitivamente, a differenza di Vaz. C’è il Nottingham. La richiesta è di 20 milioni. Una cifra che, con il passare del tempo, potrebbe anche crescere. Ma non si costruisce il futuro con i "se" o con i "ma". Per la Roma che ha in mente Gasp, non c’è più tempo per progettare a lungo termine. Per questo Venturino difficilmente verrà riscattato, Ferguson è stato mandato via e Ghilardi, se dovessero arrivare offerte congrue, potrebbe salutare. Getty Images AlajebgovicL’emblema del nuovo corso in casa Roma. Il bosniaco è stato a lungo un profilo valutato, soprattutto quando il ds era ancora Massara. Al tecnico francese piaceva e non poco. Ma a mettere un punto definitivo alla questione - oltre alla richiesta da 35 milioni del Leverkusen - è stato proprio Gasperini: il piemontese ha detto no. Non lo considera il profilo ideale per puntare al massimo nella prossima stagione. Il bosniaco, classe 2007, è ritenuto ancora acerbo. Deve dimostrare molto e ha ancora tanto da fare. E questo, al momento, non va più bene a Gasp. Il tecnico guarda altrove. Cerca giocatori pronti subito, capaci di garantire gol e continuità. Un nome in cima alla lista lo ha già: Greenwood. Lo chiama e lo attende. Getty Images Il nuovo corso D'Amico Il mercato in entrata dovrà aspettare. Per forza di cose. Ora ci sono altre priorità: dai rinnovi alle plusvalenze. Ma il 1° luglio è vicino, e da quel momento in poi si penserà ai colpi in entrata. Rispetto all’anno scorso, sono cambiati nomi e scelte. Massara puntava su giovani prospetti, più 'baby' che pronti sin da subito. D’Amico non si allontana da quella prospettiva, ma ne cambia l’essenza: giovani sì, ma pronti a fare la differenza da subito. Non si cerca l’esperienza in senso stretto, ma la qualità. Elementi coerenti con il gioco di Gasperini (forse ciò che mancava lo scorso anno), integri e funzionali. I nomi usciti fino ad oggi non sono casuali: da Greenwood fino a Molina. Giocatori con esperienza internazionale, abituati ai grandi palcoscenici e senza timore delle pressioni. Perché la Roma è entrata, o forse è tornata, sul palcoscenico più importante d’Europa: quello della Champions. E lì non c’è spazio per le scommesse. Servono giocatori pronti. La ricostruzione tanto decantata da Gasp parte da qui. Non più baby, ma rinforzi capaci di dare un plus immediato alla squadra. Subito, senza attese. Il futuro può aspettare. Ora c’è un presente da costruire. E si chiama Champions. © RIPRODUZIONE RISERVATA Commenta Continua la lettura Calciomercato AS Roma Gasperini-Greenwood, contatti continui: pressing costante per chiudere Calciomercato AS Roma Mourinho alla caccia di Summerville: lo Special One vuole battere la concorrenza News AS Roma A Trigoria il tempo di un incontro: D’Amico scopre anche Wesley oltre a Pellegrini News AS Roma Fulmini nel cielo, spettacolo in campo: Koné si prende il Mondiale e fa felice la Roma Commenti Invia Commento Tutti Leggi altri commenti

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