Gasperini backs Dybala to shine: 'I see him very strong and at the peak of his maturity'

Paulo Dybala has impressed throughout the summer pre-season, completing his most injury-free preparation since arriving at Roma. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini offered strong backing for the Argentine ahead of the season-opener against Fiorentina in two days, though he acknowledged a degree of caution given Dybala's injury history. "I see him not only determined as he was last year, but also particularly strong," Gasperini said in his pre-match press conference. "He has done a preparation that perhaps he has not been able to complete for some time, without injuries. Obviously you always cross your fingers." Gasperini reflected on last season's misfortune, recalling two serious setbacks that derailed Dybala's campaign. "Last year he was very unlucky," the coach noted. "I remember two injuries—kicking a penalty in Milan and a free kick against Torino. Two extreme cases; in one he tore a meniscus and was out for three and a half months. Muscularly he seems much more toned." The 32-year-old may have lost some of the pace and shot power of his younger years, but Gasperini believes he has developed other qualities. "He is still relatively young; at 32 you are in the prime of your technical and physical maturity. I think he will have a great season, hoping that anomalies like last year do not happen." Matías Soulé, the other Argentine on Roma's attacking midfield, also drew Gasperini's praise after a difficult spell. The former Frosinone player arrived in pre-season overweight and still recovering from pubic bone problems but has made a strong recovery. "Last year he had a great first half of the season, then suffered pubalgia," Gasperini said. "In the retreat he was quite stationary, trying to treat this problem. He arrived quite overweight and not completely recovered. However, during preparation he was excellent, exceptional. Now he is in excellent condition and produced good pre-season performances, recovering perfectly physically and athletically. On this front I believe he is absolutely recovered to the level of the first part of last season."

Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has explained the challenges Roma faced in the summer transfer window, citing constraints imposed by the wage bill ceiling. Gasperini said: "We started with very high-profile targets, but we came up against the need for a wage cap ceiling. But we have good variety." The coach acknowledged that Roma's initial ambitions for the market had to be adjusted, though he expressed satisfaction with the squad's composition despite the financial restrictions. The wage structure imposed limits on Roma's ability to pursue their original transfer targets this summer. Gasperini stressed the importance of adapting strategy while maintaining squad depth across multiple positions, suggesting that the final roster, though different from the pre-window plan, offered sufficient options for the 2026–27 campaign.

Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has acknowledged Roma's current squad limitations ahead of the Serie A opener against Fiorentina on 24 August. Speaking two days before the match and with ten days remaining in the summer transfer window, Gasperini said: "Numerically we are short, but we have two slots we can fill." The statement reflects Roma's ongoing recruitment push as the deadline approaches. The club faces Financial Fair Play constraints that have limited its transfer activity, forcing adjustments to targets. Despite these restrictions, Gasperini expressed satisfaction with the squad's progress and the adjustments made to the transfer strategy as the window enters its final phase.

Paulo Dybala has impressed throughout the summer pre-season, completing his most injury-free preparation since arriving at Roma. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini offered strong backing for the Argentine ahead of the season-opener against Fiorentina in two days, though he acknowledged a degree of caution given Dybala's injury history. "I see him not only determined as he was last year, but also particularly strong," Gasperini said in his pre-match press conference. "He has done a preparation that perhaps he has not been able to complete for some time, without injuries. Obviously you always cross your fingers." Gasperini reflected on last season's misfortune, recalling two serious setbacks that derailed Dybala's campaign. "Last year he was very unlucky," the coach noted. "I remember two injuries—kicking a penalty in Milan and a free kick against Torino. Two extreme cases; in one he tore a meniscus and was out for three and a half months. Muscularly he seems much more toned." The 32-year-old may have lost some of the pace and shot power of his younger years, but Gasperini believes he has developed other qualities. "He is still relatively young; at 32 you are in the prime of your technical and physical maturity. I think he will have a great season, hoping that anomalies like last year do not happen." Matías Soulé, the other Argentine on Roma's attacking midfield, also drew Gasperini's praise after a difficult spell. The former Frosinone player arrived in pre-season overweight and still recovering from pubic bone problems but has made a strong recovery. "Last year he had a great first half of the season, then suffered pubalgia," Gasperini said. "In the retreat he was quite stationary, trying to treat this problem. He arrived quite overweight and not completely recovered. However, during preparation he was excellent, exceptional. Now he is in excellent condition and produced good pre-season performances, recovering perfectly physically and athletically. On this front I believe he is absolutely recovered to the level of the first part of last season."

Gian Piero Gasperini defended Roma's transfer approach at his pre-match press conference on 22 August, two days before the Serie A opener against Fiorentina at the Olimpico. The coach confirmed that UEFA financial regulations have forced a strategic shift in the market, compounding constraints that stem from years of previous spending. "The profile is only that of UEFA; there are no other possibilities," Gasperini said. "There are situations that UEFA imposes and from which our ownership, even wanting to, cannot escape. I thought that after six months or with arrival in the Champions League the situation would be resolved, but it is not so." Gasperini emphasised that Roma remain the only Italian club currently under UEFA supervision. "Roma has already had two deferrals and probably cannot have any more," he noted. "Now the reckoning has arrived, but we will do well anyway." Despite those constraints, he expressed satisfaction with arrivals in the window. Álex Molina replaced Zeki Çelik after winning the World Cup two months earlier; Christos Koulierakis joined as a defensive profile the squad lacked; and Rodrigo Mora arrived as a young long-term investment. Artem Dovbyk and Evan Ferguson departed, replaced by Mateo Castro. El Shaarawy, Bryan Zaragoza, Angeliño and Kostas Tsimikas also left. Gasperini stated: "All the players who arrived have strongly wanted to come to Roma. They have also reduced their salaries—and under this aspect I believe very positive work has been done. There are still ten days of the market left and we hope to complete everything." On the left wing position that Roma had pursued, Gasperini offered flexibility: "Only if he can be added value, otherwise I am not going to load myself with players just for the sake of it." Numerically, two squad slots remain available from a full complement of 23. He praised Paulo Dybala, Lorenzo Pellegrini and Bryan Cristante for accepting significant wage cuts. On Dybala's fitness prospects, Gasperini said: "I am certain, because I see him not only determined as he was last year but also particularly strong. He completed a pre-season perhaps for the first time without injuries." Dybala suffered two serious injuries last season—one requiring meniscus surgery that sidelined him for three and a half months. Gasperini stated that further squad exits may follow only if they represent tactical switches rather than pure departures. "If there are other exits it is only for changes, to switch," he said. "In this moment there is nothing certain." The window closes in ten days. Roma finished last season on 73 points and third place in Serie A, but Gasperini stressed the slate resets: "Every year you start from zero. What was done was very positive and satisfactory for all, but when the season starts everyone begins at 0 points and the 73 points from last year must be played again."

Gian Piero Gasperini addressed Roma's transfer strategy and squad preparation two days before the Fiorentina fixture, emphasising that while the squad is more competitive, UEFA financial controls have forced creative market decisions. Gasperini confirmed the club can still add two players numerically to the 23-strong squad sheet, but only if conditions can be met within budget limits. "The profile is only that of the UEFA regulations, there are no other possibilities," Gasperini said. "There are situations that UEFA imposes and from which even our ownership, much as they would like, cannot escape. If we had done Summerville we could not have done anything else. There are technical parameters that cannot be explained—you must have trust in the society that they are complex enough and force a club under UEFA control like Roma, unique in Italy right now, to comply." Gasperini revealed that reaching the Champions League last season had not resolved Roma's financial strictures as initially expected. "I thought that after six months or with arrival in the Champions the situation would be resolved, it is not so and this forces this type of market," he said. Roma remains the only Italian club subject to UEFA Financial Fair Play monitoring following accumulated deficits from previous years and has already received two deferrals; no further extension is available. Despite these constraints, Gasperini backed the recruitment approach, particularly the arrivals of Rodrigo Mora from Porto—described as "a very important investment, especially in perspective"—and the swap dealing that saw Zeki Çelik depart for Molina, and Evan Ferguson and Artem Dovbyk exit for Castro. He also praised the contract reductions undertaken by Paulo Dybala and Lorenzo Pellegrini, as well as renewals by Bryan Cristante and others. On the left-wing position, Gasperini stated he will only pursue a signing if it adds genuine value: "Numerically the discussion is what I said before—two players can be added. But only if they can be reached under the conditions we can have. If the market offers this it will be so, otherwise we stay as we are." Regarding Dybala, Gasperini expressed confidence the 32-year-old will achieve more appearances this season. "I am sure of this because I see him not only determined as he was last year but also particularly strong. He had a preparation that perhaps for a long time he could not complete, without injuries. Last year in my view he was very unlucky. I remember two injuries, kicking the penalty in Milan and the free kick against Turin. Two borderline cases—in one it cost him a meniscus and he was out three and a half months. Muscularly he seems much more toned. Perhaps he no longer has the speed and power of shot from when he was young, but he has improved other qualities. At 32 years old today you are in the prime of technical and physical maturity. I think he will have a great season." Gasperini will take stock of any remaining recruitment possibilities before facing Fiorentina, a heavily renovated side. He acknowledged uncertainty in his starting formation for the opening match, citing the integration of recently arrived players Mora and Molina alongside squad members returning from World Cup duty with different fitness levels. On the season's ambitions, Gasperini declined to discuss the Scudetto prospect, saying: "We must look at our own path, we are trying to do the best possible for our possibilities. I am convinced we will do well. To speak of a final result I do not know, it will also depend on the opponents."