After the prolonged and ultimately failed pursuit of Richard Rios, Roma quickly snapped up Neil El Aynaoui from Lens to bolster Gian Piero Gasperini's midfield. The young Moroccan midfielder is a true box-to-box player who should suit Gasperini's demanding style of football. He joins Manu Kone to create a young, energetic partnership in the center of the pitch for the Giallorossi—one that is expected to be admired by many.
Add Niccolo Pisilli and—at least for now—Bryan Cristante, and it seems like
Roma’s midfield is pretty much complete. However, that might not be the case, as reports indicate the Giallorossi have been in contact with the entourage of Colombian midfielder Nelson Deossa.
Deossa is a 25-year-old midfielder who currently plays in Liga MX with Monterrey. His performances for Monterrey during the Club World Cup reportedly caught the attention of European clubs, including Roma. If Roma is genuinely pursuing Deossa, it supports the reports that El Aynaoui wasn’t just an alternative to Rios but was intended to complement the former Palmeiras player.
Deossa has a €16 million release clause, making him a more cost-effective option than the current Benfica player Rios. He's described as a “modern midfielder who can play in both phases of the game with good feet and the ability to win back the ball.” He’s known as a willing runner with fight and the ability to strike from distance—traits that should complement players like El Aynaoui and Koné.
Deossa ranks very favorably in a number of categories across the next 14 leagues worldwide, including non-penalty goals, shots, shot-creating actions, progressive carries, successful take-ons, and tackles. And according to FBRef.com, one of the players he’s similar to is Rios. Considering all of this, the rumored interest makes a lot of sense as he enters his prime years at an affordable price.
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