Serie A market, Juventus-Roma is also important ahead of January
The anticipation grows, hour after hour, for Juventus v Roma, the key match of the 16th day of Serie A scheduled for Saturday at 8:45 p.m. A challenge that takes on special weight not only for the standings, since both teams are fighting for fourth place, which at the end of the season would mean Champions League qualification, but also for what could happen off the field. In fact, the Stadium will be the scene of a challenge that also speaks of the market: a crossroads that could open interesting scenarios for both managers, who are called to reason about the future, in particular, of two elements of their respective midfields.
On the one hand there is Bryan Cristante, also confirmed as a starter in Gasperini’s Roma, who, however, has not yet agreed on a renewal and has a contract expiring in 2027. On the other is Weston McKennie, back to being an indispensable wildcard for Spalletti but with a deal that expires in June and a situation that requires quick decisions: from the start of the new calendar year, in fact, the Texan will be free to agree with other clubs. Juventus had already found a draft d’understanding at the time of Giuntoli for a 3.5 million per season renewal, but now the ball has passed to CEO Comolli, who is called upon to evaluate all the variables involved.
It is in this context that Juventus-Roma takes on added value: not only a direct clash, but also an opportunity for a confrontation between managers. Juventus, by the way, has been following Cristante himself for some time, an experienced profile capable of playing multiple roles, while Roma is carefully observing the situation of McKennie, whose characteristics and ductility could fit perfectly into Gasperini’s mechanisms. An exchange is not easy, but it is also not a hypothesis to be discarded, as reported by Tuttosport, which confirmed the’mutual interest in the two players: the direct clash on the field could be the first step to understand the margins of the operation.
The Roma team is also looking for a new player.
On the field, meanwhile, the two teams present themselves with clear identities but different situations. Juventus finds Bremer back from the first minute after three months, a return that changes the weight of the defense. Then in attack, there’s the surprise Milik on the bench: 574 days after his last appearance, the Pole returns to the squad and offers an extra solution in the offensive rotations.
Roma arrives in Turin with a few more doubts, especially in defense, where Hermoso remains doubtful due to fatigue. In the three-quarter, Soulé and Pellegrini are expected to start, while Dybala, not at his best, could be handled with caution. Up front, with Dovbyk unavailable, it will be Ferguson’s turn to lead the attack.
