Rating the Roma Transfer Session – The Special Summer

Calciomercato, Italian Football, Roma, Serie A, Transfer Market

Prior to the end of the previous campaign, Serie A fans were delighted with the news of José Mourinho’s return to the Italian peninsula. Therefore, we simply knew that whoever Roma were going to sign during the summer transfer session, the new season will surely be marked by the arrival of the Special One.

Nonetheless, the capital club was still able to pull off a relatively solid transfer campaign – taking into account the financial troubles that ravaged other sides – and for once, the Giallorossi didn’t sell their best assets. So let’s have a closer look at Roma’s Calciomercato, before making our final assessment.

Departures

Whilst Roma usually end up selling their stars for profit, they spent their last transfer session cutting off some of the deadwood, with most of them being either loaned out or simply released. During Paulo Fonseca’s tenure, Alessandro Florenzi turned from club captain to complete outcast, and his status didn’t change with the arrival of the second Portuguese tactician in a row, and has been sent on loan to Milan.

After two disappointing seasons, Pau Lopez was sent to Marseille after failing to cement himself as a reliable number one. Cenzig Under joined him in Southern France. Justin Kluivert will also play in Ligue 1, having joined Nice on loan, while Bruno Peres was sent to Turkey.

Edin Dzeko finally left the Italian capital, joining Inter as Romelu Lukaku’s replacement, whilst Pedro completed a rare switch, signing for La Magica’s fierce rivals Lazio after being released from his contract. Antonio Mirante, Javier Pastore and  Juan Jesus have also left the club, with the latter joining Napoli.

Arrivals

On the other hand, Roma brought in four new players during the summer transfer session, and interestingly enough, sporting director Tiago Pinto acquired their services on permanent deals, rather than the usual temporary transfers witnessed throughout the summer in Italy.

Tammy Abraham‘s 40 million euro switch from Chelsea rendered him the most expensive player to land in Italy during this particularly poor summer. The Englishman wasn’t the only purchase in attack, with Eldor Shomurodov arriving from Genoa.

Matias Vina was signed to replace Leonardo Spinazzola who’s healing from the injury he sustained in Euro 2020, and in Rui Patricio, the Giallorossi should finally have a reliable and experienced goalkeeper between the posts.

Best Coup

If there had been any doubt, Tammy Abraham‘s impressive performances in the first two Serie A rounds should raise the dust on the manner, and the young striker should be proclaimed as one of the best transfers during the current market. The former Chelsea man is smart, powerful and has already integrated well in Mourinho’s lineup.

Worst Blow

Truth to be told, Roma weren’t hit with a major blow this time around. Surely Dzeko’s goals might be missed, but his departure was a timely one, and the same for Florenzi’s leadership, but after enduring a sudden fall from grace two years ago, it’s time for him to settle somewhere else.

However, if we must pick a negative aspect for the club’s summer campaign, then it would be their failure to offload some of the players who were rightly considered to be surplus to requirements by Mourinho himself, the likes of Steven N’Zonzi, Federico Fazio and Davide Santon, which left the manager with an overloaded squad of 31 men.

Missed Chance

For several weeks, Granit Xhaka‘s transfer from Arsenal to Roma was perceived as a done deal. However, it eventually collapsed, and the player ended up signing a contract extension at North London.

Watching the Swiss midfielder suffering week in week out with the Gunners surely isn’t an impressive sight. However, Arsenal are a team in shambles at the moment, and we’ve seen what Xhaka can do in a proper tactical system at Euro 2020. The Switzerland international would have made an interesting addition for Mourinho’s midfield.

Final Rating

As we mentioned above, Pinto and company performed a solid job during the summer transfer session, and we already saw Roma enjoying their football once again – albeit they’re yet to face great adversity. With a more experienced and charismatic tactician, plus a young and improving squad, the capital side can now aspire to play in a more prestigious European competition than the Conference League starting next season.

Rating: 7.5 

Read More – Rating the Milan Transfer Market Session – The Stable Progress

Rating the Inter Transfer Market Session – The Great Downsize

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