Gasperini casts doubt on Roma future amid Champions League chase
Gian Piero Gasperini has cast uncertainty over his future as AS Roma manager, stating his hope to stay is not the only factor required. Speaking ahead of Roma's crucial Serie A match against Inter Milan, the coach admitted that qualifying for the Champions League will be pivotal for the club's planning and his own position. "I hope to be Roma's coach in July, but I must not be the only one who is satisfied," Gasperini said. "All components must be. I believe this is a good team; it should not be dismantled but improved and completed."
The manager directly linked the club's financial and sporting trajectory to securing a top-four finish. "The league position will very much condition next season," he admitted. "We all hope to reach the Champions League, mainly for an economic reason. The club is considering what it can and must do next season." He suggested that decisions made by previous regimes now weigh on the club, forcing important choices for the future. Gasperini's current contract is believed to run until 2027, but his comments open the door to a potential premature departure if alignment with the board is not found.
Roma sit three points off the Champions League places with eight games remaining, setting up a tense finale. Gasperini expressed pride in being level on points with Juventus at this stage but emphasized the need to accelerate. The immediate challenge is an Inter side that has historically been a bogey team for him; Gasperini has won just five of 35 previous managerial meetings. A positive result at San Siro would be a significant boost to their European ambitions.
On the squad, Gasperini provided a mixed update. He confirmed the important return of winger Matias Soule from injury, stating the Argentine had looked like his old self in training. However, he expressed disappointment with summer signing Victor Zaragoza, admitting he had expected more from the Spaniard after his move from Granada. Regarding the future of on-loan forward Donyell Malen, Gasperini was clear on the player's quality, saying he has "convinced everyone," but noted the final decision on a permanent transfer involves economic evaluations for the club to make.
The 66-year-old also touched on his relationship with the club's ownership, describing it as frank and built on trying to meet the objectives set for him. He reiterated his desire to find compatible solutions to grow the team within the club's possibilities. As the season reaches its climax, Gasperini's future appears intrinsically tied to the final league standing, with the coming weeks set to determine both Roma's European fate and the continuity of their project under his leadership.
