While last weekend’s six-pointer against Napoli didn’t go as expected, thanks to their 2-2 draw with the Partenopei, Roma climbed back into fourth place in the league table. With a slim one-point lead over fifth-place Juventus, Roma will have to walk on eggshells from here on out. However, before we fret about Sunday’s clash against Cremonese, let’s catch up on all the latest updates from the Romaverse.
Koné, Hermoso, and Wesley Available on Sunday
While Niccolo Pisilli has filled in admirably over the past several weeks, we can safely assume
that Gian Piero Gasperini breathed a sigh of relief this week when Manu Koné returned to training. Sidelined by a hamstring injury for the past three and a half weeks, Koné’s return will provide a boost to Roma’s midfield.
After missing two weeks of action due to a foot injury, Spanish defender Mario Hermoso is ready to return—and not a moment too soon. With Gianluca Mancini on nine yellow cards this season, a slip-up against Cremonese would leave the veteran center-back suspended for Roma’s tilt with Juventus on March 1st. Dropping Hermoso into the starting lineup on Sunday would give the club a bit of insurance against Mancini’s exuberance.
And lastly, don’t rule out a last-minute return for Wesley, who limped off the pitch at the Maradona last weekend with a sprained ankle. With a critical match against Juventus looming next week, perhaps Gasp will play it safe and keep Wesley on the bench, but at least he avoided a significant injury.
Paulo Dybala Remains Out
Certainly, the downside to the positive injury updates is that Paulo Dybala remains out with the same knee injury that kept him from Roma’s last three games. Overall, Dybala has stayed relatively healthy this season, but this recent injury has been more challenging for La Joya to recover from. Although recent tests showed no structural damage, the 32-year-old forward considered minor surgery but ultimately decided against it, choosing to focus on his ongoing rehabilitation.
It comes at an awkward time for the club and Dybala, who are not only fighting for their Champions League life but also haggling over his future with the club. With his contract set to expire in June, Roma must carefully weigh the injury risk before signing him to a new deal, while Dybala has to decide whether he’s willing to accept a reduced role going forward.
Lorenzo Pellegrini Tottenham Bound?
Take this one with a healthy grain of salt. Pellegrini, who is also set to become a free agent in June, is reportedly being targeted by new Spurs manager Igor Tudor. The former Juventus manager considers Roma’s former captain an ideal recruit for his midfield, but with Tudor only tied to Spurs through June, Pellegrini’s potential move to London depends on Tudor keeping the job.
Love him or hate him, it would be awkward to see Pellegrini suit up for another Serie A club, so perhaps a move abroad is the best option.
Juventus Concentrated on Celik
We’ll end today’s roundup with another spurious transfer rumor. Celik, another impending free agent, has been haggling with Roma over a new contract for the past several weeks. With Roma hesitant to meet his wage demands (rumored to be around €4 million), it was only a matter of time before Celik was linked to a new club. According to La Stampa, Juventus has a handshake agreement with Celik’s representatives on a multi-year deal to lure him away from the Stadio Olimpico.
Celik has played the best football of his career at Roma over the past two years, so this will be an interesting negotiation. I wouldn’t rule out a return, but it seems the club has set a firm wage limit for the 29-year-old.
That’s it for now, but check back with us tomorrow as we kick off our Cremonese coverage. Roma Boosted by Returns but Questions Linger Over Dybala
