Gasperini: “I’m happy at Roma. Malen can be like Higuain.”

Gasperini: “I’m happy at Roma. Malen can be like Higuain.” From Atalanta to Roma, from the transfer market to Scudetto dreams, passing through Dybala, Malen, Mora, and the Champions League. Gian Piero Gasperini opens up about his career in a long interview with Gazzetta dello Sport, on the eve of the match against his past. An inevitably special reunion: “We parted ways with Atalanta at the right time. Tomorrow will be like a lover reuniting with his ex, but Roma has given me new goals. I’m happy here.” Gasperini has also been captivated by the capital: “The most beautiful thing I’ve seen is the Sistine Chapel, but the tomb of St. Peter also moved me.” Meanwhile, he’s enjoying a team that started strong and an atmosphere that has started to dream again. Cristante and Pellegrini have spoken openly about the Scudetto and the Circus Maximus, but the coach has no intention of dampening their enthusiasm: “You can never stifle dreams. The important thing is knowing that, when the alarm goes off, reality is something else. Then, if you live reality the right way, you can also make it match your dreams.” Gasperini clearly senses this enthusiasm around the team: “The passion has always been there. Now I see enthusiasm, but mature, aware. More than people outside Rome think. You don’t easily tell Roman fans that.” Then the transfer market and a summer that was decidedly more complicated than expected due to Financial Fair Play: “To my great regret, I think so. In June, I thought we’d solved the problems with the Champions League qualification money. When we tried to sign Greenwood and Summerville, I realized that wasn’t the case. The summer was torture, constantly reviewing transfer ideas and letting go of players who were enthusiastic about coming to Roma, for salary reasons.” A regret offset “by the desire to stay of a group of players, young and old, who took a pay cut.” The present, however, tells of a Roma that has started to run. And Gasperini doesn’t want to hear about management when it comes to Paulo Dybala: “No, he’s done his best in preparation, he’s strong, he’s doing well. There are words I hate: preserve, save, rest… I ask Paulo: ‘Do you want to play again?’ If he says ‘Yes,’ I’ll keep him in even when we’re 4-0 up. Never stop a guy who’s having fun.” Then there’s Donyell Malen, who’s off to a blistering start. Gasperini explains what won him over about the Dutchman: “The first touch, with which he creates space. With the second he prepares, with the third he fires. I said to myself: if I move those three touches closer to the goal, he becomes lethal. Indeed…” And when Higuain’s record of 36 goals is put before him, he doesn’t hold back: “If he threatens Higuain’s record of 36, I’m not surprised.” Words of high praise also for Rodrigo Mora, about whom the coach seems to have no doubts: “Nooo! This is truly great. Every time he touches the ball, something happens. Like it happens with great players.” Finally, on the horizon is the Champions League, the next stage on which to measure Roma’s growth: “It’s an opportunity to get to know each other. We already know we can compete in Italy, now we’ll see if we can compete in Europe too. Balerdi and De Roon’s international experience will be an added help. In any case, it will be a starting point for us.” And between matches, there will also be time for dinner with Gattuso, but not during the hottest week: “Better not during the derby week… But I’ll definitely go to dinner with Rino, I like him a lot. Just as I’ll soon be back at the table with Totti.” First, however, there’s Atalanta: his ex, this time, is coming to his house.