AS Roma is one of the most popular teams in world football, let alone Italian football. In recent years, they’ve enjoyed a resurgence under famed manager Jose Mourinho, and they won the Europa League in 2022/23.
If you’re interested in betting online on the upcoming season, you may be looking for insights into which Roma players you should back for the likes of top goal scorer or assist maker. So, in this guide, we’ll take a look at Roma’s top five players as we move into the 2023/24 season.
Chris Smalling
Veteran defender and former Manchester United man Chris Smalling enters year five since his switch to Serie A in 2019.
After initially joining the Giallorossi on loan, the Englishman quickly established himself as a foundational piece to the team and ultimately made his temporary move a permanent one the following year. Since joining the club, he’s transformed into one of their most relied upon pieces, starting 128 of the 144 matches he’s appeared in across all competitions.
His importance to Jose Mourinho’s set-up was highlighted earlier this summer when Roma inked him to a new contract which runs until June 2025.
Once again, he’ll be tasked with leading Roma’s three-man backline this season alongside Gianluca Mancini and either newcomer Evan Ndicka or Diego Llorente.
Bryan Cristante
Roma’s unsung hero over the last five years, Italian international Bryan Cristante will undoubtedly play a big role in 2023/24.
Ever since his arrival in the Italian capital, Cristante has proven crucial thanks to his ability to play multiple roles at a high level throughout the pitch. Added to the recent departure of veteran Nemanja Matic, he’ll be counted on to provide leadership and balance in midfield.
Paulo Dybala
The Argentinian Paulo Dybala is the jewel in AS Roma’s crown. The diminutive attacker is a joy to watch, creative and skillful, and capable of scoring goals as well as creating them.
Last season, Dybala was Roma’s top goalscorer as he notched 18 goals and 8 assists across all competitions. With 26 overall contributions to goals, this made him one of the most fruitful attackers in all of Europe’s major leagues.
Edoardo Bove
One of Roma’s brightest youngsters, Edoardo Bove seems ready to take on greater responsibilities this season after being “unearthed” last season by Jose Mourinho.
The Special One surprised many when he implemented Bove regularly into the team last season–a gamble that eventually paid off. The homegrown midfielder showed a high level of versatility, energy, and tactical astuteness and was relied upon more and more as the season progressed.
Lorenzo Pellegrini
Club captain and Rome-born midfielder Lorenzo Pellegrini will be counted on to rebound from a disappointing 2022/23 season.
Although he did well statistically with 8 goals and 9 assists in all competitions, he struggled to maintain consistency in his performances throughout the year. With that said, there’s still plenty of scope for Pellegrini to improve. With Tammy Abraham expected to miss at least half the season due to a torn ACL, Pellegrini will naturally be one of the players called-upon to find the back of the net more.
