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D'Amico says Roma must add quality in January after failing to do so last summer
·18 October 2026·2d ago

D'Amico says Roma must add quality in January after failing to do so last summer

Source: Forza Roma

Roma sporting director Tony D'Amico has made clear that the club will be active in the January transfer window, saying the squad needs another step to compete in the Champions League and secure their place in Serie A. Speaking before the match, D'Amico said: "To be able to compete in the Champions League and confirm ourselves in the league, we need another step, to add something. We tried in the summer and did not manage it. We must take this step if we want to keep facing competitions like the Champions League."

The comments came the day before the fixture and follow the Champions League defeat to Real Madrid. Roma are in the Champions League this season after qualifying by finishing third in Serie A in 2025-26, and the sporting director's message makes clear that the club's attempt to strengthen last summer fell short of what head coach Gian Piero Gasperini needs. Although the impression is that the club's thinking has been clear for some time, D'Amico's public call for reinforcements sharpens the focus on the winter market.

Despite the loss to Real Madrid, D'Amico took positives from the performance: "That game left us with the awareness of having put in a great performance. The Champions League makes you stronger, even in defeats."

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Story Coverage2 sources on this story

Tony D'Amico has confirmed that Roma will be active in the January transfer window, saying the squad needs another step to compete in the Champions League and hold its place in Serie A. Both reports quote him saying the club tried to strengthen in the summer and failed, and that they must now add quality. One Forza Roma piece places his comments the day before a match, following the Champions League defeat to Real Madrid. A second Forza Roma piece says he spoke to Sky Sport ahead of the Genoa match, and it does not mention the Real Madrid game. Roma qualified for the Champions League by finishing third in Serie A in 2025-26.

D'Amico defended the summer strategy, which combined a youth-led overhaul with the retention of an important core group. He singled out Mora and Castro, who were expected to feature against Genoa, as quality signings the club had invested heavily in. He also took positives from the Real Madrid loss, saying the performance left the club aware of its strength and that the Champions League "makes you stronger, even in defeats."

On loan deals for players from bigger clubs, D'Amico said Roma's priority is signing strong players first. He added that the club would always want the option to keep any player it brings in on loan. The comments suggest Roma's January approach will favour permanent moves or loans with purchase options over simple temporary deals.

AI synthesis of all sources below — always check the originals.

Testo Originale / Source Text

“La richiesta d'aiuto di Gian Piero Gasperini è arrivata a dama, scrive Andrea Pugliese su La Gazzetta dello Sport. leri, infatti, il ds della Roma Tony D'Amico è stato molto diretto sul prossimo mercato di gennaio, anche se poi l'impressione è che le idee a Trigoria fossero chiare già da tempo.…”

Read the full article in Italian at Forza Roma.

Read original on Forza Roma →

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