Roma are stepping up negotiations to sign Morato, a 25-year-old Brazilian centre-back from Nottingham Forest, on a loan deal with a conditional obligation to buy. The move is directly tied to Jan Ziolkowski's expected departure: the young Polish defender is increasingly close to joining Monza on loan, and Roma want a replacement before sanctioning his exit.
Gasperini has identified Morato as the right profile to fill the defensive void. The club's transfer chief, Tony D'Amico, has pushed decisively for the Brazilian, a left-footed player already accustomed to European football and the Premier League. Ziolkowski's potential exit would leave a gap in the backline that the coach wants to fill with another central defender to rotate into his plans. Roma are working on a dual-track strategy to reshape their defence without reducing the options available to Gasperini.
According to Gianluca Di Marzio's reporting, Roma are negotiating with Nottingham Forest on the basis of a loan with a right of redemption that could become an obligation once certain conditions are met. Morato, whose full name is Felipe Rodrigues da Silva, was born in 2001 and stands approximately 1.92m tall. He is naturally a central defender but can also be deployed on the left side of the back line and, if needed, on the left flank. He spent a long period at Benfica before joining Nottingham Forest, where he currently plays in the Premier League.
Once Morato's arrival is finalized, Roma will give the definitive green light to Ziolkowski's loan transfer to Monza. The two operations remain strictly linked as Roma looks to modify the composition of its defence while maintaining enough depth for Gasperini's rotations in the coming weeks.
Story Coverage7 sources on this story
Roma are preparing to let academy defender Jan Ziolkowski depart on loan to Monza, but sporting director Tony D'Amico has made his approval conditional on securing a replacement centre-back first. Monza's offer is structured as a loan valued at approximately €1.2 million with conditions around a potential right of redemption, though Retesport reports the figure as €18 million. GialloRossi.net adds that part of the loan fee may be tied to Ziolkowski's playing time, effectively reducing what Monza owes Roma the more he features.
The race to find a defensive replacement has shifted dramatically in recent hours. Morato, a 25-year-old left-footed Brazilian at Nottingham Forest, was the leading candidate until this morning. Roma had opened formal negotiations on the basis of a loan with a right to purchase, valued at approximately €15 million overall according to GialloRossi.net, though Retesport reports an €18 million right of redemption. An agreement in principle had been reached with the player, but GialloRossi.net reports that Morato no longer fully convinces head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, causing his stock to fall. This setback has prompted Roma to broaden their search. Corriere della Sera, cited by both outlets, reports fresh interest in Nayef Aguerd, a 30-year-old Moroccan centre-back at Marseille, though the club is believed to prefer a permanent sale. Retesport also names Thilo Kehrer, a 30-year-old German at Monaco, as a concrete alternative, though the outlet notes he has not excited Roma's technical staff.
AI synthesis of all sources below — always check the originals.
Testo Originale / Source Text
“Affare in chiusura tra la Roma e il Monza per il prestito di Jan Ziolkowski. Secondo quanto riferisce Fabrizio Romano, il club brianzolo ha avanzato la richiesta di un diritto di riscatto al club giallorosso. Da capire dunque se sarà presente o meno nella formula dell’affare.
La Roma accelera per…”
Read the full article in Italian at GialloRossi.net.
