THE GIALLOROSSI CROSSROADS: WHY EVAN FERGUSON’S ROMA FUTURE IS SUDDENLY UNDER THREAT
Evan Ferguson faces fresh competition at Roma! With Robinio Vaz and Donyell Malen arriving, find out what's next for the Irish star.
Evan Ferguson has been playing well for Roma recently, but there are still questions about what will happen to him at the club soon.
The Irish player joined the Serie A team on loan for a season, with a €40 million option to make the move permanent this summer. At first, he had trouble in Italy because of injuries and not playing much. The manager even questioned him about it publicly a few times.
But Ferguson seemed to have turned things around lately. He has started the team's last four league games, even though he had to leave the game early in the win over Sassuolo last weekend because of what people think is a small back injury.
Now, Roma is bringing in more players, which makes his place on the team uncertain.
Evan Ferguson's Future is Unclear Because Roma is Making Two Big Moves
Roma has been connected to different forward players in recent weeks. The club are now close to adding to their options up front.
Fabrizio Romano says that the club has agreed to sign Marseille striker Robinio Vaz in a deal that could be worth up to €25 million.
That's not the only new player coming.
Many sources say that Roma has agreed to a deal to sign Donyell Malen from Aston Villa. The Dutch player is set to join on loan with an option to buy this summer.
Both of these players would give Gian Piero Gasperini more choices up front. But it looks like the club missed out on their main target for January, as Atletico Madrid's Giacomo Raspadori reportedly turned down Roma to move to Atalanta.
Evan Ferguson won't play in Tuesday's Coppa Italia game against Torino because of that small back injury. But he is expected to be back soon. When he does return, it seems like he will have a lot more competition to get a spot on the team.
WHY LORENZO PELLEGRINI’S FUTURE AT ROMA HANGS IN THE BALANCE THIS SUMMER SEASON
AS Roma director Frederic Massara gives an update on Lorenzo Pellegrini’s expiring contract. Is a Juventus move on the cards for him?
Lorenzo Pellegrini recently spoke about his strong connection with Juventus manager Luciano Spalletti, while Roma’s director Frederic Massara hinted that extending the midfielder’s contract remains a possibility.
Pellegrini’s deal with Roma is set to expire this June, alongside contracts for Paulo Dybala, Stephan El Shaarawy, and Zeki Celik.
Regarding updates on contract extensions through 2026, Massara mentioned during the Inside The Sport 2026 event, as reported by Calciomercato.com, that discussions are ongoing with all four players and their agents. He noted the club has been addressing these matters in recent weeks and will evaluate if there is mutual interest and suitable conditions to continue working together. Essentially, nothing is decided yet.
This season at the Stadio Olimpico, Pellegrini has experienced some highs and lows but still managed to appear in 33 matches across all competitions, contributing seven goals and four assists.
Roma remain contenders for a Champions League spot but currently sit five points behind Juventus, who occupy fourth place.
Pellegrini expressed his wish for a top-four finish with Roma, emphasising that the focus has been on the team’s own performance rather than the standings. He acknowledged the current situation isn’t entirely within their control, so the best course is to concentrate on winning the remaining games and see how things unfold.
The well-publicised clash between Claudio Ranieri and Gian Piero Gasperini seems to have further energised Roma’s coach, according to Pellegrini. He described Spalletti as even more motivated heading into the final stretch, stressing the importance of being in peak form on the pitch to tackle upcoming challenges.
There have been rumours linking Pellegrini with Juventus as they seek to strengthen their midfield options. The Italian international established a strong rapport with Spalletti during the coach’s second tenure at Roma.
Pellegrini wrapped up by reaffirming his positive relationship with Spalletti, recalling the great moments they shared and his respect not only for the coach’s tactical abilities but also for his character beyond the field.
MARCO PALESTRA REFUSES TO LET INTER RUMORS DISTRACT FROM CAGLIARI’S RELEGATION BATTLE
Marco Palestra addresses Inter Milan rumours. Read why the Atalanta loanee is prioritising Cagliari's safety.
Marco Palestra isn’t shutting the door on a move to Inter this summer, but right now, his mind’s on one thing: saving Cagliari’s spot in Serie A. “We’ll see in the summer,” he said.
This season’s been a bit of a whirlwind for him. At just 21, he’s made a serious name for himself, breaking through during his loan at Cagliari and earning his first runs with Italy’s national team. Sure, the World Cup play-off loss in Bosnia still stings for everyone, but it hasn’t stopped the buzz around Palestra’s future.
He’s still under contract at Atalanta until 2029, but after his performances, clubs have started circling, especially Inter, who look set to take the league. At an event in Coverciano on Monday, reporters pressed him about his plans. Palestra kept it close to the chest, just saying it’s flattering to hear big clubs are interested, and he’ll figure it out in the summer.
“I honestly didn’t imagine this at the start of the season,” Palestra said. “I was just trying to focus day by day, just trying to get better and not thinking too far ahead.” He still sees room to grow, which makes sense given his age. “Everyone at 21 has a lot to learn. I need to improve in everything, really. I’ve had two seasons now in Serie A, and there’s always more to pick up from my teammates and coach.”
The Inter rumours keep swirling, but when you ask him about it, his answer’s steady: it’s about Cagliari right now. “I’m only thinking about Cagliari. Safety comes first. The rumours are flattering, sure, but we’ll handle all that later.” He echoed it again: “I’m 100% focused on Cagliari. They deserve that. I’ll talk things through with my agents when the season’s done, but I don’t want any distractions right now.”
The sting of Italy missing the World Cup again is still fresh for him. “The loss in Bosnia was a heavy blow for all of us. The days after weren’t easy. But we have to regroup and come back stronger. This group is special, and we’ll help each other recover and improve.”
As for how he handled the disappointment? “It was tough, especially at first. I just stayed home, replaying what went wrong over and over. But I had to snap out of it for Cagliari’s sake. Now, staying up in Serie A is all that matters.”