Roma pundits debate left-winger target and Endrick options

Edoardo Bove's agent Tavano says Souloukou and Ghisolfi have shown the player the door at Roma, and calls it a shame because Bove grew up at the club. Tavano said: “I think it’s a shame because he grew up at Roma. He is at a very high level, because if the Tunisian national team, which is not the last of national teams, not at all, has already called him up to the senior side, it means we are talking about an absolute talent. So it’s not so much about The Guardian, which are newspapers after all, but it’s about the pitch. It will be Roma who decide what to do and how to protect themselves in that sense, with the utmost respect for the choices. So we are not polemicising, of course. I am, I repeat, biased since I am his agent, but objectively there is data telling us this boy has significant potential. So it’s a shame if things don’t go the right way.” The agent’s comments came as he discussed Roma’s start to the season under Gian Piero Gasperini and the idea that Inter are the club’s rivals in the title picture. Tavano said he sees Inter more as the anti-Roma, adding that it is his impression. He moved on to Gasperini, whom he has known for years. Tavano said: “Look, I see Inter more as the anti-Roma! That’s my impression. On Gasperini you’re preaching to the converted. Out of the despair of losing Mourinho, because in my opinion Mister Mourinho, for a thousand reasons, could have been the right man for a city like Rome, with the arrival of Mister Gasperini, whom I knew very well, because my first strong player, the one who opened the door to this world for me a little, is Sebastien De Maio, who was created by Gasperini. Sebastien was very important for Gasperini in changing and reaching what is his total football, this total pressure across the pitch. During a Genoa-Juventus match he asked Seba to follow Llorente everywhere, and did the same with Burdisso on Tevez. They won 1-0 from there, and he decided to bring the attackers into the whole pitch, that is, the defenders. A bit like what you see now. You see the defenders arriving from the other side of the pitch. For me Gasperini is a coach who is not a discovery and is not burning through stages, because, among other things, in my opinion, at Trigoria, at Roma, in Rome, you need coaches with this personality, like Mourinho, like Gasperini. So it doesn’t surprise me. He is an extremely strong coach, and let’s hope we keep doing well.”

Chelsea are reportedly open to a loan move for Gittens, while Roma keep their distance from the deal as they look for attacking reinforcements. Roma are searching for at least one addition in attack ahead of the winter transfer window, to strengthen the squad available to Gian Piero Gasperini. Roma's first priority remains Endrick, a player the coach holds in high regard. The club's management continues to target him as the main option for the forward line. The Italian report frames Roma as watching developments from the sidelines rather than moving quickly for Gittens.

Roma's management are following the situation of two unhappy forwards who appeal to Gian Piero Gasperini, with Endrick reportedly wanting to leave Real Madrid and Lookman looking for more game time. The Giallorossi are reportedly searching for their next striker in Madrid. The article's headline frames Roma's interest as a move for a future player at Real Madrid, linking the club's search to the coach's preferences. No further details on fees or timing are available from the report.

Roman radio pundits have been debating a possible move for Brazilian forward Endrick, with contrasting views on whether he would suit Roma. On David Rossi's Rete Sport show, Rossi said Il Corriere dello Sport reported that both AC Milan and Roma were interested in the player, and that Endrick had said he would not join Milan because the club's symbol is the Devil. Rossi questioned whether that could be credible, adding that when a name is this obvious a deal rarely happens unless it is already done. He also said there was a danger Fonseca wanted Endrick at Sporting, where the player had felt at home under Fonseca at Lyon. "Endrick is a fantastic player," Rossi said. "Gittens may play on the left, but between him and Endrick there are, for me, three categories of difference." The debate comes as Roma are in the title conversation. Gianluca Piacentini named three reasons to believe in the scudetto: the league's strongest coach, room to improve through the January transfer market, and a levelled-down Serie A, which he said was shown by Lazio sitting top of the table. He said he hoped the race would be between Roma and Inter. Piacentini also criticised the 'atleta di Cristo' explanation, saying it was not a fair criterion for choosing a destination. Fabio Petruzzi said Endrick sees little of the pitch and may want to leave to play regularly, adding that if he has not played while Vinicius was suspended for four matches, he will never play. He said that if he were an attacker, Gasperini is the first coach he would want to work with, and that Endrick, a left-footed player, can play on the left. Mario Corsi said the Mora-Endrick comparison was a trap because the two are completely different players. He said Endrick has a strong shot, dribbling and heading ability, and that strong players must be signed. He said Malen should not be deployed on the wing because he must stay in the middle, and that Gasperini and D'Amico had not heard from Friedkin for a long time and were somewhat worried. "If they really want to win, they have to make this move." Francesca Ferrazza said Roma need two forwards with Pellegrini gone, and that Endrick offers the best value for money. Lorenzo Pes said Malen's frequent substitutions also happened last year, and that Retegui at Atalanta rarely finished matches. Valentina Catoni said that when Dybala is fit he always plays. Piero Torri recalled Mourinho saying Endrick would not leave Madrid, noted that the Brazil international has started only one match, and said Endrick is a second striker who would sit behind Soulé and Dybala. Roberto Pruzzo said Endrick wants to play and that Italian football has become a second-tier league. Nando Orsi argued Roma need a right-footed winger who plays on the left, and that Endrick would be of little use with Castro already in the squad. Mario Mattioli warned that bringing Endrick into the Roma dressing room could be an unwanted explosion, calling him very difficult to manage and saying he would have to play always and in every match. "He is not a dressing-room man," Mattioli said, adding that Endrick is not the man who says "let's arm ourselves and set off" when a common effort is needed.

Roma head coach Gian Piero Gasperini wants to bring in two attacking players, with a striker of pace and thrust the clear priority. Tony D'Amico publicly acknowledged last Saturday that finding such a forward is the aim, a quality the current squad palpably lacks and which was exposed in high-level matches against Manchester, Real and Inter. Endrick is seen as the ideal profile for his technical and athletic qualities. He was deployed in support of the main striker at Lyon a year ago, when Fonseca, who now wants him at Sporting, used him in that role. He has scored 8 goals and provided 8 assists in a few months, a sign of enormous potential that is still largely unexplored. Gasperini would pair him with Malen, with a playmaker behind the front line such as Mora, in a 1-2 attack, and would add a second attacking player alongside him. That second player would be a left-footed winger who can operate as a wide midfielder or a winger, with a profile similar to Moreira: versatile and able to be used in several roles or positions during a match. The alternative would be an attacking midfielder in the mould of Pasalic or Pellegrini, who could come in as part of the rotations. The target is not a deep-lying or central midfielder.

Roman radio pundits have been debating Roma's interest in Real Madrid forward Endrick, with several saying a loan is the likely route. Andrea Pugliese on Radio Radio Pomeriggio (104.5) said: “La Roma a gennaio va alla ricerca di un prestito secco, massimo con diritto di riscatto per motivi finanziari. Per Endrick era tutto fatto in estate ed è una cosa che confermano anche in Spagna. Mourinho continua ad opporsi a una sua cessione per egoismo. La Roma potrebbe lavorare anche per Gittens perché al Chelsea non gioca. So con certezza che Fonseca prenderebbe Endrick al volo e allo Sporting il brasiliano si troverebbe bene per la lingua e per il rapporto che ha con il tecnico. Endrick alla Roma? Firmerei non domani ma ieri.” Ugo Trani on Tele Radio Stereo (92.7) turned to Mora, saying Roma currently pay 25 million to Porto for him, and that acquiring 100% of his rights would take the total to 50 million. He added: “Mora sta facendo bene in campionato e in Champions, il problema sono i rendimenti di Vaz e Dovbyk. Quando il Bologna ti rimanderà indietro Dovbyk potrai cederlo solo in prestito, i problemi della Roma sono questi. Endrick allo Sporting? Stanno parlando con più club perché Mourinho non vuole darlo ai Friedkin. A Endrick se metti 5 club davanti sceglie comunque la Roma. I dirigenti della Roma si sono mossi con quelli del Real Madrid con il Procuratore del calciatore e con lo stesso Endrick. Lo scoglio Mourinho resta, se può fare uno scherzetto ai Friedkin lo farebbe. Non è stato contento che ha vinto contro la Roma? Certo, ma non per i tifosi, per i Friedkin.” Roberto Pruzzo (Radio Radio Pomeriggio - 104,5) said: “Endrick vuole giocare. Il campionato italiano è diventato di seconda fascia, i giocatori vengono qua da noi a fare tirocinio. Dumfries all’Inter faceva la differenza, nel Real non gioca mai. Endrick è forte, qua troverebbe una collocazione. Sarebbe una bella sfida anche per lui trovare la titolarità in una squadra che sta andando molto bene…” Piero Torri (Radio Manà Manà - 90,9) said: “Serve porsi una serie di domande su Endrick. Lo considero una punta. Secondo me non è il giocatore che la Roma sta cercando come caratteristiche.” Filippo Biafora (Radio Manà Manà - 90,9) focused on playing time: “La questione per Endrick è una sola: deve giocare tanto. Mi domando se con Gasperini giocherebbe tutte le partite. Non ne sono certo. Sicuramente entrerebbe più in campo di quanto non faccia oggi al Real Madrid. Credo che il tecnico di Grugliasco lo vedrebbe sul centro-destra.” Lorenzo Pes (Teleradiostereo - 92,7) was more focused on Roma's current attack: “La gestione di Dybala mi incuriosisce. L’assetto migliore potrebbe essere quello visto con il Real Madrid con Soulé a destra e Paulo a sinistra. Con Dybala Malen rende al massimo ma la produzione offensiva non è diminuita. Il giocatore migliore in questo inizio di stagione è Hermoso.”