AS Roma head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has discussed the signings of Marten de Roon and Leonardo Balerdi ahead of the team's second league match. Roma, fourth in Serie A with 3 points from one win, face Lecce away looking to build on their positive start.
Gasperini confirmed the arrivals in a press conference reported by ANSA Sport. "Two captains have arrived, De Roon and Balerdi." said the coach. The Giallorossi have scored 4 goals without conceding any in their opening match, but now face a very tough schedule.
Why AS Roma chose De Roon and Balerdi
The deal for Marten de Roon was completed extremely quickly. Gian Piero Gasperini explained that the Dutch midfielder, after many years at Atalanta, was no longer part of the Bergamo club's plans. "It was something that happened quickly, within 48 hours." recounted the coach. Gasperini spoke with Atalanta official Luca Percassi, and the club allowed the departure partly in recognition of De Roon's past service. The player strongly wanted to join AS Roma.
Argentine defender Leonardo Balerdi completes a department that needed more physical presence and character. The stated goal is to make the squad more competitive to face the many matches of the season, not just the starting eleven. The team still needs to complete its business with the arrival of a forward and a left-back, as confirmed by the manager.
How will AS Roma fans react to De Roon
Some Roma supporters have criticized the arrival of Marten de Roon due to past comments the player made about the club. Gasperini considers these reactions entirely normal between rivals and believes opinions will change quickly. The coach drew a comparison with his own experience, recalling he was not initially popular with fans, but things changed. Gasperini is convinced people will find De Roon to be a solid and professional person.
This transfer market operation also allows Roma to manage its squad better. The arrival of De Roon enables young player El Aynaoui to seek another experience, likely on loan, to continue his development. It's a move that looks at both the present and the future of the group.
What are the next challenges for the team
Roma's immediate schedule is very demanding. After the challenge against Lecce, seventh in the table, the team must maintain its pace in a Serie A where AC Milan is already running away with 6 points. The gap to the top is 3 points and every match counts. The enlarged and reinforced squad will be essential to sustain this rhythm.
Fans can follow the evolution of the league table on our standings page and check the full match schedule in our fixtures. The objective is clear: use the personality of the new arrivals to build a team capable of competing on all fronts. The work of Gasperini and the club continues to close the transfer market in the best possible way.
