Gasperini’s Roma crisis deepens after Brighton thrashing as Endrick dream looms
The training pitches of Rome echoed with frustration on Saturday as the side coached by Gian Piero Gasperini slumped to a 3-0 defeat against Brighton, exposing defensive frailties that left the stands stunned. The visitors’ clinical finish on the counter left the Giallorossi shell-shocked and Gasperini seething, the Italian coach lambasting both the performance and the club’s transfer strategy in the same breath. “It was, without doubt, a terrible game, a poor display, lacking the necessary concentration,” he said after the match, his voice sharp with disappointment.
The loss arrived at a fragile moment for the capital club, with Gasperini now openly questioning the board’s inaction in the summer window. His frustration centres on the missing piece in his 3-4-3 system: a right-footed midfielder capable of playing off the left behind the striker. “Numerically, it still feels like we need something,” he told reporters. “There are good options out there. Sporting director Tony D’Amico is looking at very young but very important players. That’s the direction.”
The Italian’s outburst follows he cancelled a Sky interview at the last minute, citing disagreements with club leadership over the delayed delivery of his desired profile. According to the dello Sport, tensions flared in a recent meeting between Gasperini and D’Amico, with the coach visibly agitated by the lack of progress. “Recent developments in the negotiations may have left him irritated, or at least unsettled,” the report noted.
Gasperini’s shopping list has already seen setbacks this summer. Mason Greenwood moved to Fenerbahçe, Crysencio Summerville was signed by Al-Hilal for €80 million, and Antonio Nusa publicly denied leaving RB Leipzig. Now, the focus has shifted to Endrick, the Brazilian forward at Real Madrid whose limited minutes have fuelled speculation over a temporary move. Roma have tracked the player for over a month and are weighing a loan with an option to buy, mirroring the structure used to sign Nico Paz from the same club last season.
The young Brazilian faces stiff competition at Real Madrid for the centre-forward berth, with Kylian Mbappé and Carlos Espinosa leading the pecking order, while Rodrygo, Brahim Díaz, Bernardo Silva and Federico Valverde dominate the right-wing options. Roma’s scouting network has only begun preliminary soundings for the ex-Palmeiras attacker, as the window ticks toward its late-August close.
With Serie A, the Champions League and the Coppa Italia all demanding attention in the coming months, the pressure on Gasperini to secure his target is mounting. The club’s hierarchy insists it is exploring all avenues, but the coach’s public airing of grievances suggests patience is wearing thin. The next fortnight could define whether the Giallorossi’s pre-season stumbles translate into a fractious campaign or a swift correction.