Opinion

Can Roma Qualify for the Champions League Next Season?

RomaPress Staff
(Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)

It is never boring being a Roma fan but last season seemed to be more of a rollercoaster ride than usual. From the highs of kicking off the year with club legend Daniele De Rossi, to the lows of the Ivan Jurić tenure, to the final redemption and sheer enjoyment of the return of Claudio Ranieri – we probably need a little time to get over the 2024-25 campaign.

Football never really stops though – at least not thinking about football – and Roma is now in full offseason mode, preparing for next season. As much as Serie A is arguably the most competitive major league in Europe, winning the scudetto might be slightly out of reach for the Giallorossi. But a top-four finish – and the reward of Champions League football – has to be the goal.

But how realistic is that dream? To find the right markets and best odds you might want to take a look at an honest BetNow review – but you will also need some information on how the Roma team is going to look next season. Rumors will be everywhere this summer but will the Giallorossi seriously be able to compete next term?

New man in charge

It is never boring being a Roma fan but last season seemed to be more of a rollercoaster ride than usual. From the highs of kicking off the year with club legend Daniele De Rossi, to the lows of the Ivan Jurić tenure, to the final redemption and sheer enjoyment of the return of Claudio Ranieri – we probably need a little time to get over the 2024-25 campaign.

Football never really stops though – at least not thinking about football – and Roma is now in full offseason mode, preparing for next season. As much as Serie A is arguably the most competitive major league in Europe, winning the scudetto might be slightly out of reach for the Giallorossi. But a top-four finish – and the reward of Champions League football – has to be the goal.

But how realistic is that dream? To find the right markets and best odds you might want to take a look at an honest BetNow review – but you will also need some information on how the Roma team is going to look next season. Rumors will be everywhere this summer but will the Giallorossi seriously be able to compete next term?

Expect Atalanta connection

One intriguing aspect of Gasperini joining the club as head coach will be the potential for some of his Atalanta players to also make the journey south to the Stadio Olimpico. It is common for coaches to raid their former clubs for talent and it would not be a surprise if that was to be the case here too.

There have already been rumors of Gianluca Scamacca following his former boss and other players, such as Isak Hien may be tempted by a move to the capital. Gasperini may even be interested in using his relationship with former Atalanta players, like Robin Gosens, to entice new personnel to the club.

Key Signings needed

It would have been nothing short of a miracle to finish in the top four last season – even with Ranieri. But that does mean that Roma is not as attractive for the top players looking to move to a Champions League club. That being said, European football will entice some and the Giallorossi do need to strengthen in some key areas.

The spine of the team could do with some new personnel, with a central defender, a holding midfielder, and a striker top of Gasperini’s list. There will be players moving across the continent who could fill those roles and the arrival of new people in positions of power puts the club at a greater advantage than the set-up from last season.

fighting off interest

Unfortunately, Roma will also be vulnerable to interest in the players who are already at the Stadio Olimpico. Obviously, we think that the Italian capital is the best place to play football but Serie A is nowhere near as wealthy as some of the other big leagues – with the EPL, in particular, easily able to poach the best talent.

Talks are still ongoing between the club and Mile Svilar and it would be one of the signings of the summer if he was to extend his contract. He was undoubtedly the best keeper in Serie A last season and will be an important part of any attempt to finish in the top four next term. Keeping hold of our best players is vitally important to that end.

Look to EPL

As much as the EPL has been able to swoop in for top Serie A players thanks to the vast amounts of money it can promise in wages, there has been one significant trend in recent years that might be beneficial to Roma this summer. More and more English players are extending their horizons and moving to continental clubs.

Napoli is the best example of an Italian club raiding the EPL for talent, with Scott McTominay and Billy Gilmour helping to win the scudetto this season. Antonio Conte might already have been at an advantage, thanks to his experience of the English game, but there will be others more than happy to try their luck at a prestigious club like Roma.

Strength of rivals

Serie A is arguably enjoying its most competitive period in living memory. Gone are the days when Juventus was almost guaranteed to win the scudetto and Napoli showed last season that Inter is not as all-conquering as it seemed this time last year. That strength is good for the Italian game – but it does make Roma’s chances of finishing in the top four more difficult.

Napoli, Inter, and Juventus will all be aiming for the title next season, with Atalanta, Milan, Fiorentina, Bologna, and even Lazio thinking that a top-four finish is a realistic hope. Roma has just as much chance as any of them of qualifying for the Champions League but it does mean that competition will be fierce. Hopefully, the Giallorossi will prevail.

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