Injury Dispute Over Wesley Adds to Internal Tensions at AS Roma
A significant internal dispute has erupted at AS Roma concerning the fitness of Brazilian defender Wesley, with manager Gianluca Gasperini and the club's medical staff at odds over his readiness to return from injury. According to reports from Italy, the situation has escalated tensions between Gasperini and the club's senior advisor, Franco Baldini, and is symptomatic of broader friction within the Trigoria training complex. Wesley has been sidelined since March 30 with a flexor muscle injury.
Gasperini is reportedly pushing aggressively for Wesley's immediate return to group training, with hopes of having him available for the upcoming Serie A match against Atalanta. However, the medical staff, supported by Baldini, is advising caution and has delayed his return, likely until next week. Despite the player's own desire to return and his solo training sessions, recent medical tests have not convinced the club's doctors to grant clearance, making his participation against Atalanta appear highly unlikely.
This disagreement is the latest in a series of conflicts this season between Gasperini and the medical department. Previous points of contention have included the timing of Paulo Dybala's surgery and the recurrent injury issues affecting players like Lewis Ferguson, Artem Dovbyk, and Youssouf Fofana. The case of Wesley, described as the final straw, led to a heated argument between Gasperini and Baldini earlier this week, with sources indicating the rift may now be irreparable and could lead to the departure of one of the key figures.
The situation has drawn in external medical opinion, with Gasperini reportedly seeking advice from Georg Ahlbaumer, an orthopedist from the Klinik Gut in St. Moritz who is a trusted consultant for Roma's owners, the Friedkin Group. Ahlbaumer has previously advised on treatments for other Roma players, including Matias Soule and Gianluca Mancini. Regardless of the outcome between Gasperini and Baldini, the Friedkin Group is now said to be intent on overhauling the medical staff due to the high number of player absences this campaign, a move reportedly supported by Ahlbaumer's own recommendations.
Wesley's potential absence is a blow for Gasperini, who holds the player in high regard. The injury crisis at Roma remains severe, with Wesley joined in the treatment room by Filippo Pisilli, Dybala, Fofana, Dovbyk, and Ferguson. Only Pisilli, who suffered an ankle sprain, has a realistic chance of being available for the Atalanta fixture. The ongoing saga underscores a season of instability at the capital club, where on-field challenges have been compounded by significant off-pitch divisions.
