Gasperini plays down Celik loss and demands Roma market acceleration

Gasperini plays down Celik loss and demands Roma market acceleration Gian Piero Gasperini has moved to defuse the fallout from Zeki Celik’s defection to Juventus, while making clear he expects Roma to accelerate in a market where they have so far been left behind. According to Goal , the coach was relaxed about losing the defender he had wanted to keep. “The Roma diesel engine goes the distance,” he said, reaching for a metaphor when asked whether the club were too slow to close deals. “Celik was out of contract… in general we have to be better, because the market moves quickly. Now Ryan Friedkin will help us accelerate. This is a slightly unusual year, with the World Cup in the middle and D’Amico only arriving in June, but now we’re starting to move. I thank Celik for what he did last season, but I’m convinced we’ll strengthen and be even better.” Roma set condition for West Ham deal in first meeting with Summerville’s agents Gasperini defends Roma wage cap after missing Greenwood and Summerville Gasperini was candid about why marquee targets have slipped away, confirming Roma had walked away from both Mason Greenwood and Crysencio Summerville. “Are they profiles suited to Roma’s resources? Evidently not, but by choice, not because of the club’s means,” he explained. “It’s been decided to set a wage ceiling, and it seems right to me: it’s not nice for someone who reached the Champions League to immediately be leapfrogged by a new arrival.” Gasperini reiterated his demand for reinforcements, “the famous three or four quality signings,” for the two wide roles alongside Matias Soulé and Paulo Dybala , and expressed hope that Lorenzo Pellegrini, currently sidelined by injury, would eventually agree a renewal to follow those of Gianluca Mancini and Bryan Cristante despite reported Juventus interest. On the prospect of a big sale to balance the books, Gasperini was pragmatic: “It will be difficult, but we’ll do everything to resolve this problem and allow the club to be freer in its investments.”