Lorenzo Pellegrini has prolonged his Roma contract on reduced terms and is preparing for his comeback after six months out injured, with Como the likely stage for his return to first-team action. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini pushed to keep the midfielder at the club, and Pellegrini accepted the deal despite what had seemed a permanent rupture in his relationship with the Giallorossi. His last match came on 10 April against Pisa, when a thigh problem forced him to stop. A recurrence followed, an unsuccessful attempt to recover for the end-of-season derby, and then surgery in Finland in early June. Should he play against Como, 184 days will have elapsed since his last official appearance—the longest absence of his entire career.
Pellegrini offers solutions to problems Roma has carried into the new season. Gasperini had requested an attacking player capable of starting from the left and moving infield during the summer window—a major signing that never materialised. Now, in the revamped setup, Pellegrini can become a natural solution in that zone alongside Rodrigo Mora, simultaneously allowing Matías Soulé to return more consistently to the right-centre, where he can alternate with Paulo Dybala. There is also another tactical possibility: when facing teams lined up in a four-man defence, Gasperini often deploys a central attacking midfielder behind two forwards—a position where Pellegrini can rediscover freedom to make runs, deliver the final pass and, above all, that proximity to goal which in his best years allowed him to impact scoring. Last season, Gasperini himself redeployed him in that zone against Lazio, a match in which Pellegrini responded with the decisive goal and one of his best recent performances.
Pellegrini has returned to squad selection in the last two matches against Torino and Inter, but Gasperini chose not to rush his return. The extended international break now offers the perfect opportunity to complete the work. Gasperini explained before the Inter match: "The long break will be an opportunity to do something more." The number 7 is now increasing his training load at Trigoria, and if friendly matches are organised by the staff, he will finally accumulate the minutes no training session can truly replace. Pellegrini carries qualities the squad desperately needs: experience, knowledge of the environment, ability to play between the lines and an attacking output that, even in a complicated season, saw him finish with seven goals across all competitions.
Gasperini retained Pellegrini not out of nostalgia but because he believes he can still be useful. Pellegrini's second chance with Roma has begun with a contract signature; the real one will arrive when he returns to playing. Como could be the opening chapter of the new story. Roma may employ a 3-4-1-2 formation against Como, and the coming three weeks could prove decisive in Gasperini's decisions. Pellegrini will continue daily work at Trigoria with Gasperini, whilst Mora is engaged with Portugal's Under 21 side.
Testo Originale / Source Text
““Ancora tu, ma non dovevamo vederci più?”. Per mesi sembrava davvero arrivata ai titoli di coda la storia tra Lorenzo Pellegrini e la Roma. Un rapporto lungo, intenso, pieno di momenti altissimi ma anche di stagioni complicate, infortuni e un legame con parte della piazza diventato sempre più…”
Read the full article in Italian at GialloRossi.net.
