While everyone at Everton wonders what the Friedkins are playing at after a disastrous transfer window and an immediate decision to look for investment – perhaps even sell – it’ll be interesting to keep an eye on what’s going on at AS Roma.
Sport Witness already covered growing fan anger at the Italian club this week. That explained how AS Roma’s transfer window was eerily similar to the one Everton went through.
It raised questions about the American owners, their plans and how committed they are to their football ventures in general.
“Did everything they could”
Well, it seems they may have one supporter at least. AS Roma manager Gian Piero Gasperini insists that they did everything they could to give him the tools he requires this season.
“In June, I thought we had resolved our issues using the Champions League qualification money,” he said, in an interview carried in Friday’s print edition of Gazzetta dello Sport.
“When we tried to sign Greenwood and Summerville, I realised that wasn’t the case. The summer was torture – constantly revisiting transfer plans and having to pass on players who were excited to join Roma because of wage bill constraints.
“The ownership did everything they could within the financial limits. And yet, my disappointment was ultimately compensated for.”
Manager looking for positives
Gasperini is, instead, looking at the positives from the situation. He’s particularly impressed by the desire and commitment from the players he already has.
“It (his optimism) stems from the desire to stay shown by a group of players – young and not-so-young – who took pay cuts and put their love for the shirt and the fanbase above everything else.
“Dybala, Hermoso, Mancini, Cristante, Pellegrini, Lulli… This spirit is our strength. It doesn’t happen everywhere.”
Whether David Moyes takes a similar stance at Everton, remains to be seen. It is certainly hard to imagine given he spent the summer asking for signings and wasn’t given them.
If anything, he was left with a squad weaker than the one he wanted. Reports in Rome said the same about Gasperini. But for now, it seems he wants to take the pressure off his American bosses.
