For much of the past month, Mason Greenwood has hovered over Roma’s summer mercato like a storm cloud. Every few days brought another report suggesting Gian Piero Gasperini had identified the English winger as his dream signing, that Tony D’Amico was preparing an offer, or that negotiations with Marseille were nearing another critical juncture. Finally, we may now have closure—but not in the way that Gasperini may have hoped.
Multiple reports indicate Fenerbahçe have surged ahead of Roma by offering
Greenwood a staggering salary package of €11 million a year while pushing aggressively to meet Marseille’s asking price. Roma, meanwhile, seem unwilling to enter a bidding war that would stretch both their transfer budget and wage structure beyond reason (with some reports saying the total cost of bringing in Greenwood could reach over €100 million).
If these reports from the likes of Gianluca Di Marzio signal the end of Roma’s pursuit, many Romanisti won’t be mourning this as too much of a missed opportunity. That statement has nothing to do with Greenwood’s footballing ability. At 24, he’s an exceptional talent capable of scoring 20 goals a season while creating chances from nothing; Greenwood could have been the explosive right-sided attacker Roma have lacked since Mohamed Salah departed nearly a decade ago.
To restate the obvious for the dozenth time, it’s Greenwood’s past that’s the problem. His widely publicized allegations of domestic abuse, which led to his departure from Manchester United even though criminal charges were ultimately dropped, have never stopped following him. Nor should it, in my personal opinion, just because he can beat a defender one-on-one or rack up goals in Ligue 1. Following a club is following its players, and as someone who has been a diehard Romanista for as long as I can remember, Greenwood’s transfer would have been a true “can I continue loving this team in the same way right now” moment for me. Supporting a football club inevitably means separating the badge from the individuals wearing it. No squad is filled exclusively with saints. Yet Greenwood always felt like a bridge too far.
Fortunately for Tony D’Amico, alternatives are beginning to emerge, with the most romantic name being that of Mohamed Salah. Reports of a sensational return have resurfaced for the player who became a star in Rome and then became one of the world’s best players in Liverpool. It’s difficult not to smile at that possibility. Few players have left a greater “what if?” in modern Roma history than the Egyptian, whose electrifying play made him a truly unique player in the Giallorossi’s modern history.
This kind of reunion would undoubtedly sell shirts and rekindle memories of 2016-17, but whether it represents smart squad building is another question entirely. Salah remains world-class, but he’s now in his mid-thirties. There’s a reason he’s departing Liverpool, after all. If Roma are truly building around younger cornerstones like Mile Svilar, Niccolò Pisilli, and Matías Soulé, investing heavily in a short-term superstar may not fit the long-term vision, even if every supporter would welcome one more run down the Olimpico touchline for Salah during the club’s centenary.
Then there’s Alejandro Garnacho, perhaps the most intriguing alternative to Greenwood currently being discussed. Reports suggest Roma have already made inquiries regarding the Argentine winger, whose stock has fallen dramatically after an uneven spell at Chelsea following his departure from Manchester United. In direct contrast to Salah, Garnacho represents upside rather than nostalgia. He’s still only 22, possesses elite athleticism, thrives in transition, and feels like exactly the kind of player Gasperini has elevated throughout his managerial career. The risk, of course, is that Roma have already gambled on rehabilitating one young Premier League attacker in Evan Ferguson; we all know how that experiment went. Should Gian Piero Gasperini and the Giallorossi want another reclamation project?
Other names will undoubtedly surface as the window unfolds, but at a minimum, the Greenwood transfer saga increasingly looks like a chapter that’s closing before it ever truly began. I’m not complaining: sometimes missing out on Plan A simply creates the opportunity to find a better Plan B.
