Zeki Celik is playing with utmost dedication, and Gasperini recently emphasized the value of his commitment (along with Pellegrini, Dybala, and El Shaarawy) in a press conference despite his impending contract expiration.
The Turk, after nearly three years of partial obscurity with the Giallorossi, has become a true protagonist for Roma since last January, when Claudio Ranieri, in an emergency, decided to deploy him as a right-back.
Alongside Mancini and Ndicka, the former Lille player has found his true calling, with a growing performance that has not gone unnoticed at Trigoria.
According to Francesco Oddo Cassano of SiamoLaRoma.it, negotiations for his contract renewal, however, did not begin immediately, and this delay impacted the Turk’s final decisions.
With Gasperini’s arrival, Celik has increasingly found more space, but no longer in the back three.
Due to Angelino’s prolonged absence and given Tsimikas’s difficulties settling in, the Grugliasco-born coach has decided to deploy him almost permanently in the midfield role, moving Wesley to the left. Gasperini has often emphasized Celik’s importance in the press room, but Roma has been unable to reach an agreement on the renewal of the Turk.
At 29, he is aiming for the biggest contract of his career, given his regular start for the Turkish national team. The final verdict has just arrived.
The Turkish player’s asking price is too high and would set a dangerous precedent within the dressing room.
Several clubs are interested in Celik. In Italy, Luciano Spalletti’s Juventus is certainly interested, but Premier League clubs are also keeping an eye on him.
Therefore, Roma will need to make a significant investment on the flanks in June.
