Roma’s lack of transfer activity in January could be looked at one of two ways. Either coach Luis Enrique is happy with the squad at his disposal or the owners are not going to provide any more funds at this stage after the large amounts spent last summer on revamping i Lupi.
After a flurry of new players arriving in the Eternal City during the off season, the expectation was that Roma would more likely look to pick up a bargain or two during the current transfer window.
Instead, three players left the Stadio Olimpico for challenges elsewhere. Strikers Marco Borriello and Stefan Okaka have gone to Juventus and Parma respectively, whilst Chilean midfielder David Pizarro has joined his former boss Roberto Mancini at Manchester City, until the end of the season.
However, the big talking point around the streets of Rome was not who would be coming into the club but whether or not midfield general Daniele De Rossi would be staying.
After a long and drawn out saga, the situation at the time of going to press, is still no clearer and the 28 year-old has seemingly put off making any decision regarding his future. This, of course, made it difficult for coach Luis Enrique to know where he should funnel any funds that may have been available to him.
With the current fanfare surrounding the new-look Roma, offers from agents with money to make and players to sell were not in short supply. To bolster the defence, players such as Jose Bosingwa, Paolo De Ceglie, Diego Lugano and Martin Montoya had all been mentioned as possible candidates to join the club ranks but De Ceglie was the only player who ever entered into any meaningful discussions with the club.
Given the current injuries at the back for Roma, Nicolas Burdisso being the most serious, getting some valuable cover in that area might have been appropriate. As things look right now, any further defensive injuries could see Daniele De Rossi employed as a makeshift centre-back again. De Rossi did not disgrace himself in that position against Juventus but it’ is not a serious option going forward and a real centre-back should be purchased in the summer.
So what of Roma’s midfield? This is surely the biggest sign of strength in Enrique’s remodelled side. There are no shortage of options and tactics that can be employed to deal with the wealth of talent that the Spaniard has at his disposal. However, the plentiful nature of talented players currently at the club should never deter a team from looking to add to the roster.
Of all of the players linked with a winter move to Rome, only Brazilian midfielder Marquinho has made the trip. He comes in on loan for the rest of the season with a view to a permanent move. How important he will be to the Giallorossi project over the next few months will be interesting to watch unfold, and it could be a smart move on Enrique’s part.
Roma did make an offer for Dutch side FC Groningen’s 23 year-old Serbian winger Dusan Tadic. A player with massive potential, he could be ready to explode on the big stage in the coming season or so. Unfortunately, the clubs could not reach an agreement over the player’s value and he currently remains in Holland.
Another Brazilian, Casemiro, was offered to Roma and seemingly everyone else, but it was never seriously considered. One signing who would have hugely lifted the Roma faithful is Lyon’s Brazilian midfield ace, Michel Bastos. A player of supreme quality and just the kind of signing that would take the Roma Revolution up to the next level. For now that purchase was not to be, but it is understood that the club are still interested and could come back with an offer in the summer.
A problem area that still remains unresolved is that of the striking department. The summer departure of Mirko Vucinic along with the January departure of the out-of-favour Marco Borriello, both to Juventus, has left Luis Enrique with a potential shortage. Youth product, Stefano Okaka’s sale to Parma has not increased Enrique’s options either.
This problem was compounded a mere 24 hours after Borriello left, when top scorer Pablo Osvaldo broke down in training and remains on the treatment table. He is expected back in the next few weeks but the likes of Fabio Borini , who has made the most of this opportunity and Francesco Totti regaining his scoring touch, has helped to soften the blow.
It is an area that needs attention and of the players mentioned during January, Juve’s Fabio Quagliarella looked like an ideal candidate to fill the gap but it seems as if Roma’s interest was not reciprocated.
Other quality strikers mentioned, such as Alberto Gilardino and Amauri decided to play elsewhere. Amauri seemed to be interested and willing to open discussions, but doubts surfaced as to whether he could be a first choice pick when considering the playing style of coach Luis Enrique.
Despite the active rumour mill, Roma remain pretty much as they were. A couple of players in and a couple of players out. Very little to excite supporters despite the endless column inches of rhetoric.
Where does this leave Roma for the rest of the season?
The club currently sit in sixth place after a string of good results in the past two months. However, the fact that a great unbeaten run of seven games has only got them to sixth shows how much work is still to be done.
Wednesday’s defeat away to Caligari did little to bolster their chances of European qualification and should Roma finish in the top six, this might be considered a ‘success’ and enough to keep the spanish coach at the helm for further season.
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