Gasperini calls for clarity as Roma chase Champions League

Wesley has spoken about his second season at Roma following a standout first year, discussing the club's return to the Champions League after seven years and the adjustments required under head coach Gasperini. The Brazilian winger reflected on the difference between the competition and South America's Copa Libertadores, saying: "I don't know how it will be to play it. I can say that Libertadores is a very tough and difficult competition, but I don't think it can come close in absolute terms to the Champions League. The strongest players play here, there's a higher standard. For the quality of those who participate in it, I think the Champions League is a kind of club World Cup." He expressed confidence that Roma will improve after a demanding pre-season, stating: "We come from a fantastic season, now we're starting again, we're working hard to face the new season and if something goes wrong or we lose matches like those against Cardiff or Brighton, it's better it happens now and not later." Gasperini has adjusted Wesley's role, asking him to finish moves rather than just assist teammates as he did at Flamengo. Wesley explained: "At Flamengo I had to reach the bottom and cross or assist a teammate. At Roma Gasp asks me to finish the action. He wants this, for me to attack. And to be able to enter the area to shoot or do something different." With the arrival of Molina, Wesley is transitioning to a left-wing position, a move he accepts despite it not being his natural flank. On the prospect of Endrick joining Roma, Wesley said: "I haven't heard from him, but I would very much like it if Endrick could come to Roma, but it's up to him what's best for his future. I would like to see many Brazilians here at Roma. If someone like Endrick really arrived I would be very happy."

Wesley addressed the media during Roma's British pre-season tour following a heavy defeat to Brighton, offering a measured assessment of the club's preparations for the 2026-27 season. The Brazilian winger struck a pragmatic note about the loss, saying: "We come from a fantastic year, now we are working hard to face the new season and if there must be matches that go wrong or something happens that is wrong it is better that it happens in these pre-season friendlies. We must understand before the start of the championship what we are getting wrong and how to correct it. So there is nothing left but to improve and ensure that what we saw with Brighton does not happen when things become serious in a couple of weeks. I am sure that at the start we will be ready and stronger." When asked about a potential arrival of fellow Brazilian Endrick, Wesley acknowledged his interest while emphasising that recruitment decisions rest with the club hierarchy: "It is clear that I would like him to come, but these are decisions that do not belong to me. They belong to him, to the club. There are many Brazilian players who could come and help us, but these are decisions that belong to the sporting director." Wesley also praised the return of Lorenzo Pellegrini to the squad and expressed his anticipation ahead of Champions League football: "I am happy he has returned with us in the squad, he is a player who can give us a great hand. Champions? I do not know what it will be like to play it, for me it is the first time. The Libertadores is a very hard and difficult competition but I do not think it can come close to the Champions which for the players who participate in it is a sort of World Cup. I am very curious, I expect to play great matches and thus give so much happiness to all Roma fans."

Gian Piero Gasperini has condemned the structure of the Italian transfer window, arguing that allowing the market to close after the league season has begun creates unnecessary chaos for all clubs. Speaking after Roma's friendly against Brighton, the Roma head coach said: "As always the market starts on 1 July and then everything is decided in the last 15 days of August. For everyone these are the wrong dates, because the squads are already in preparation for a month and the market is still up in the air for everyone." Daniele De Rossi, now managing Genoa, publicly backed Gasperini's position. De Rossi revealed that Norton Cuffy did not play in Genoa's friendly against Deportivo La Coruna due to market uncertainties, and used the occasion to criticise the calendar. He said: "It's a stupid thing, wrong, I don't understand who could like it, I don't understand who could agree with it. Meanwhile whoever wants to make a deal on 30 August will do it on 15 August, it's something that devastates everyone because if you play on 16 against Ascoli and on 15 they sell you a player you'll have some difficulty. This is a bureaucratic abomination that I will never be able to understand." Both coaches highlighted how the compressed August window forces transfers to occur once pre-season training is underway, destabilising squad preparation across Serie A.