Trigoria has been rocked in recent hours by Zeki Celik’s about-face, deciding to sign with Juventus.
Gian Piero Gasperini clarified the situation today, surprisingly speaking to the media from the Trigoria press room.
He addressed the transfer market and spoke about the Turk: “There’s a slow pace in closing deals. Celik’s contract was expiring, but we thank him anyway. In general, we need to be better, because the transfer window is faster. Now, Ryan Friedkin is here: that can help us.”
The coach then focused on next season: “Now we’re all at Trigoria and we’re focused on an extraordinary shared goal. I hoped the Champions League would solve our FFP, but that wasn’t the case. You have to know how to react when faced with unexpected events. The club has some flaws, but also some strengths.”
Gasperini spoke about the Scudetto dream: “It would be nice to establish yourself in those positions. If you’re often there, it’s clear that you’ll aim for that. The team did well last season, but it exceeded expectations.”
After the official renewals of Cristante and Mancini, the coach focused on Lorenzo Pellegrini’s situation: “I hope Pellegrini can renew his contract, but in any case, he won’t be able to train because he needs to recover from his injury.”
Gasperini then focused on the transfer market and the UEFA situation: “The agreement with UEFA is a complicated one. The numbers change, the hope is to resolve the issue. Now, to allow the teams to settle their accounts, it has been extended. These restrictions don’t prevent signings. I have ongoing contact with the club, including with D’Amico, who knows me. We need three or four quality signings, but the transfer market seems to be stalled for almost all teams. We also need to replace expired loans.”
“Soulé? These situations are tied to agents; today, they’re all “at the center of the market.” What matters is whether there are real negotiations and incoming names. The Argentine arrived a little overweight, but he’s working well.” Then the coach focused on the midfield: “We’re short in midfield by choice; I want to give everyone space so they’re all ready. There are no hierarchies.”
The coach concluded by discussing Mason Greenwood, who has long been rumored as a potential addition to Roma’s attack, and Crysencio Summerville, who has been linked in recent weeks: “They’re not within our reach, but by choice, not because the owners can’t afford it. The choice is to set contract targets. There are players who have led the team to the Champions League, and seeing new arrivals overtake them creates problems. Furthermore, it’s beneficial for the club; the wage bill is important. When these parameters aren’t met, we look elsewhere.”
