With the end of the summer transfer window, Football Italia previews the 2021-22 Serie A campaign and what to expect from Roma. Words Owen Diana.
José Mourinho’s arrival in the capital has brought enthusiasm after two underwhelming seasons under Paulo Fonseca when, at times, the Giallorossi showed some exciting glimpses but eventually proved to be too fragile. The Special One will need to work on his players’ mentality, arguably one of his specialities.
ROMA TRANSFERS IN
Abraham (Chelsea), Shomurodov (Genoa), Matias Viña (Palmeiras), Rui Patricio (Wolves)
ROMA TRANSFERS OUT
Pau Lopez (Marseille), Cengiz Under (Marseille), Florenzi (Milan) Dzeko (Inter), Pedro (Lazio), Mirante (Out of contract), Farelli (Out of contract), Juan Jesus (Out of contract), Bruno Peres (Out of contract)
PROBABLE XI
WHAT TO EXPECT
After hiring one of the world’s most respected coaches and spending more than any other side this summer, a top-four finish is the target for the Giallorossi. Their opponents don’t seem to be stronger than last term after the summer transfer window, while the Giallorossi added a few interested players to their ranks.
A rickety rearguard should be stingier this season with The Special One at the helm, while the attack has been reinforced by the returning Nicolo Zaniolo and a pair of striker signings, namely Tammy Abraham and Eldor Shomurodov. Conference League commitments could become an unwelcome distraction, but early signs suggest that Mourinho’s first campaign in the Italian capital will be a success.
COACH – JOSE MOURINHO
More than a decade since claiming a historic treble with Inter, The Special One has returned to Italian shores. Everybody is already waiting for his return to the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza against Inter in March, but the Portuguese has already aimed a dig at his former club by saying Roma “don’t want to win and then not be able to pay the salaries.”
Disappointing spells with Manchester United and Tottenham have not dampened the enthusiasm in the Eternal City surrounding his arrival, and Mourinho seems a perfect fit for a side that struggled defensively the past two seasons under Paulo Fonseca. The Portuguese has stressed the need for patience as he looks to build a sustainable long-term project with the capital club, but he will have his eyes set on silverware sooner rather than later.
CAPTAIN – LORENZO PELLEGRINI
After a left thigh injury kept him out of Italy’s Euro triumph, Roma’s local lad will be hoping to put that disappointment behind him in his first full campaign as captain. Capable of playing in a variety of different positions across the midfield and attacking departments, Mourinho seems set to field the former Sassuolo schemer at the tip of a midfield triangle in his preferred 4-2-3-1 formation.
That central creative role should suit a player who scored seven goals in Serie A last term while dishing out six assists. Pellegrini will also play a key role for Roma, should Mourinho decide to play both Abraham and Shomurodov as the Special One would move the Italian midfielder deeper in midfield. The Mourinho-Pellegrini bromance has already begun with the Special One saying had he had three Pellegrini, he’d play all of them.
PLAYER TO WATCH – NICOLO ZANIOLO
Despite shelling out upwards of €80m on new faces this summer, Roma’s best ‘signing’ could be a golden boy that was already on the books. Two cruciate ligament tears have kept Zaniolo on the treatment table for much of the last 18 months, but the wing wizard has the skills to take Serie A by storm once again.
The Tuscan talent will have benefitted enormously from a full preseason, and a well-taken goal against Trabzonspor hints at what he is still capable of. Roberto Mancini lost no time and immediately included him in the Azzurri’s squad to face Switzerland, Bulgaria and Lithuania during the international break in September.