According to Gazzetta dello Sport, Gasperini gave a lengthy interview to Radio Uno a few hours before the Trigoria assembly, covering topics ranging from Kone and Dybala's contract renewals to the World Cup and the transfer market, which "will only start today."
Transfer Market
He hopes to take Roma to even greater heights after finishing third last season. "It's been a long summer, a bit different from previous years. The league is over, and we're starting afresh, which everyone wants to do. Obviously, the end of last season gave us a lot of enthusiasm, and it makes us want to prove ourselves again and start afresh together."
"The transfer market in June was somewhat stalled for all teams because of the World Cup," Gasperini continued. "I think starting this week, as preseason preparations begin, the real transfer market will gradually start, although some players will return intermittently due to their World Cup commitments. All teams look very competitive, including us."
Regarding targets and signings
Roma's goal is the Serie A title, but Gasperini cautioned against excessive speculation: "Many teams want to strengthen their squads in July, and we'll have to see what happens in the transfer market afterwards. Inter are always favorites, and Milan and Juventus have both missed out on the Champions League; they'll find ways to improve themselves. Roma must continue on their own path, striving to stay at the top, in this competition where you can strengthen your squad every year. If you can do that for several years in a row, then you can also compete for the Serie A title."
To achieve this, Roma needs top-tier signings. Gasperini will also discuss this matter with the Friedkin family, who are about to arrive in Trigoria.
“I think they will arrive in the next few hours,” he confirmed. “Their presence is crucial because the transfer market is made up of decisions and immediate responses. Their presence will be decisive, and we all hope to close a good window and repay the enthusiasm of this city that has already bought so many season tickets.”
Dybala
When discussing specific players, Gasperini mentioned Dybala's contract extension. "Starting this afternoon, I think a lot of things will accelerate. So far, we're all at the starting line, and we've enjoyed the summer to some extent. There will be a significant acceleration going forward, including the contract extension."
Cornell
As for Manu Koné, who is currently playing for the French national team in the World Cup, his attitude is not so optimistic.
"Kone mainly performed very well in the first half of the league season, but stagnated somewhat in the second half, which may have made him even better in form before the World Cup. In short, he has already secured a starting position in the French national team, which speaks volumes about his ability."
Will he stay? I don't think Financial Fair Play regulations are entirely the same across different teams; they're not that precise. Roma clearly knows they need to balance their books. I hope the revenue from qualifying for the Champions League will be enough to cover that, but the club's accounts are obviously important, and things will become clearer in the coming weeks.
