Gasperini gives his verdict on Roma transfer window ahead of Bologna clash

WALSALL, ENGLAND – AUGUST 06: Gian Piero Gasperini, Head Coach of AS Roma, looks on prior to the pre-season friendly match between Aston Villa and AS Roma at Pallet-Track Bescot Stadium on August 06, 2025 in Walsall, England. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)

Roma head coach Gian Piero Gasperini is preparing for his first Serie A game in charge of the Giallorossi, after leaving Atalanta this summer in favour of a move to the Italian capital.

Roma are set to host Bologna at the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday evening and Gasperini has spoken at his press conference ahead of the clash, with quotes via the Corriere dello Sport.

Gasperini opened the conference with some honesty about the club’s summer transfer market: “Undoubtedly yes, I was expecting more – especially for a new coach who, as soon as he arrives, naturally wants to bring in other ideas. But we have worked well with the players who were here and others have joined later.

“Of course, we would all like to work with a complete squad but by now I think that has become a bit of a utopia. At the start, you always have the intentions but intentions are one thing and execution is another. The intentions are always very solid but the execution has its own timing, and that is something you have to take into account.”

Gasperini: ‘A very different Roma. Stronger… I hope so!’

Gasperini was also asked about the role that Artem Dovbyk will play in the team, after some questions have been raised over the Ukrainian’s future in Giallorossi, to which the Italian coach replied “He is called up tomorrow, like everyone else. I do not have a crystal ball to predict the future. Tomorrow is the start of the championship and Dovbyk and other players called up will have to be fully focused. Then we will see what happens in the next few days.”

Continuing on from his comments on Dovbyk, the experienced coach also discussed another striker – new signing Evan Ferguson. “Dovbyk and Ferguson are two instruments and how you use them depends on whether they are in time or not. Two different but excellent instruments. It seems to me that they are both improving, both dynamically and physically.”

Gasperini was then asked to say whether or not Roma are a stronger team than they were last season, “We need to understand that. It is definitely a very different Roma. If we look at the last lineup at the end of May, there are three starters who no longer play here and six or seven on the bench too. Five have arrived, one of whom unfortunately got injured right away. It is also different in terms of numbers. But stronger? I hope so.”

Gasperini likes new Roma signings; focus on the future

Roma have added a number of new players to their ranks this summer, signing the likes of Brazilian Wesley, Ferguson and Leon Bailey. Gasperini is impressed by the new additions, saying “They are the players the club has decided to build a future around. They are all young, the oldest being 24. They are different and arrive at different points in their career. Wesley arrives with 30 games under his belt whilst Ferguson has been out of action for a while. They are different situations but I like them. They are good players and I think we can work well with them.”

Gasperini then went into a bit more detail about the Giallorossi’s plans to sign younger players, with one eye on the future. “The right players are the good ones, the ones with value and potential – they all fit into my way of thinking and playing football. New signings fit the characteristics with which we want to start over. The need to rejuvenate and restart not with established players, but with emerging talent who can also generate capital gains – that’s what they say now. Actually, that’s not the case – we need to bring in players who have value for the future.”