De Roon praises Gasperini's impact at Roma after Champions League qualification

Paulo Dybala has recommitted to AS Roma following his automatic contract renewal, capping a resurgence that helped secure the club's return to the Champions League for the first time in seven years. The Argentine playmaker delivered decisively in the final stretch of the 2025–26 season, recording assists for Malen and El Shaarawy in matches against Verona—the goals that sealed Europa League qualification and promotion to the group stage. Over 27 appearances in that run, Dybala posted 3 goals and 8 assists. Since joining Roma in 2022, Dybala has compiled 140 matches, 45 goals and 30 assists across all positions—attacker, second striker, attacking midfielder and creative fulcrum. His debut campaign (2022–23) proved prolific with 18 goals and 8 assists before injury despite a standout display against Inter and a vital Europa League goal against Feyenoord. The following year brought 16 goals in 39 matches with 10 assists. A proposed summer transfer to Al-Qadsiah fell through when Dybala chose to remain in the Eternal City, but form and fitness suffered under successive managers, leaving him sidelined until early 2026. After knee surgery in March forced another layoff, his timely return proved crucial. The lingering scar from the 31 May 2023 final—a missed opportunity to change Roma's history—remains, but the coming seasons offer fresh chances to heal that wound.

Nine players assembled during Gian Piero Gasperini's first season at Roma have combined for 100 appearances across Serie A and cup competitions but have failed to establish themselves as regular contributors. Pierluigi Gollini featured only once, against Panathinaikos in January's final Europa League group stage match. Angeliño made brief appearances against Celtic and Panathinaikos before a March return to the Olimpico against Lecce, where he saw limited action in the run-in. Robinio Vaz, signed for 20 million euros plus 5 million in bonuses in January alongside Donyell Malen, scored his sole Roma goal against Lecce but has proven too raw for immediate impact as deputy striker. Bryan Zaragoza arrived on loan from Bayern Munich in January and impressed on his second appearance, starting against Napoli and providing an assist for Malen's opening goal from the seventh minute, yet proved costly when he came on in Roma's Europa League elimination against Bologna in extra time. Lorenzo Venturino, an 18-year-old winger on loan from Genoa, saw limited use due to his age. Evan Ferguson, signed on loan with a purchase option from Brighton, closed the season with 40 combined appearances across both strikers; the 20-year-old's campaign ended in January after injury and limited backing from Gasperini. Artem Dovbyk meanwhile struggled to meet the technical demands of the role and reappeared late in the season with only two minutes in the final two matches.

Alejandro Garnacho's career has taken an unexpected turn after two high-profile moves failed to reignite his form. The Argentine winger, now 22, joined Chelsea from Manchester United for £40 million but has struggled to convince at Stamford Bridge, making 43 appearances with 8 goals and 4 assists last season and frequently substituted or left out of the starting XI. His trajectory represents a paradox: the fearlessness that once defined him—nurtured watching Cristiano Ronaldo at Manchester United and Lionel Messi in the national team setup—has seemingly transformed into insecurity on the pitch. Garnacho's career has been shadowed by off-field controversies and public disputes with management, most notably a row with manager Ruben Amorim following a Europa League final defeat to Tottenham two seasons ago. At Manchester United, he recorded 11 goals and 10 assists, yet tabloid focus remained fixed on his conduct rather than his statistics. Now marginalized at Chelsea despite his potential, a change of environment appears necessary. A move to Roma under manager Gian Piero Gasperini could provide the fresh start he needs—particularly with Paulo Dybala, whom Garnacho idolized as a child and wore his Argentina shirt with pride, now at the Giallorossi. Reuniting with Dybala's guidance at Roma might help the young winger rediscover his focus and resolve the contradiction that has defined his recent years.