It wasn’t that long ago that Romanisti were complaining that the Giallorossi were moving far too slow in the mercato, but it now appears that their complaints and the words of Gian Piero Gasperini have been heard, as Frederic Massara is close to locking in his fourth major signing for the men’s senior side: Daniele Ghilardi.
According to multiple reports—including Gianluca Di Marzio and Gazzetta dello Sport—Massara’s negotiations with Hellas Verona over the 22-year-old centerback are already in the advanced
stages, with the Giallorossi tabling an offer of around €10 million plus €2 million in bonuses. It’s easy to see why Gasperini and Massara want to bring in the Italy U-21 international: Ghilardi fits the profile of a Gasperini defender to a tee. He’s tall, aggressive, and comfortable playing in a high line, and more than that, despite his youth, he can coolly handle attacking pressure, distribute from the back, and engage physically.
All of these factors point toward a player who can help Roma win now in a three-man defense while offering the Giallorossi a long-term solution for any future transfers out for Evan Ndicka or Gianluca Mancini—a Matias Soulé/Paulo Dybala situation for the defense, if you will.
Now that we’re deeper into the mercato and players like Evan Ferguson, Neil El Aynaoui, and Wesley are either done and dusted deals or practically wrapped up, Massara’s work on multiple fronts is beginning to show a clear strategic arc. Ferguson adds Premier League-hardened midfield dynamism. El Aynaoui brings energy and ball-winning in the center of the pitch. Wesley is a raw but intriguing piece on the wing. Now, Ghilardi would give the defense another injection of youth, grit, and flexibility. The overarching theme? Size, strength, and tactical adaptability are hallmarks of any Gasperini side that aims to punch above its weight.
While the final details are still being hammered out, the intent from Trigoria is crystal clear: get the key pieces in place, get them integrated, and give Gasperini every tool he needs to hit the ground running when the season starts in late August. We’ll see if that work continues successfully in the next week. With even more rumors for players like Barcelona midfielder Marc Bernal, Norwegian starlet Antonio Nusa, and Colombian midfielder Nelson Deossa surfacing, there’s certainly enough smoke to suggest that Massara isn’t anywhere close to finished.
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