Roma market, Artem Dovbyk skips Genoa and packs suitcase

Artem Dovbyk reportedly informed his coach yesterday that he is in no condition to take the field against Genoa. “He will not be summoned, he feels pain and cannot kick” explained a visibly bitter coach in a press conference. However, there are those who see behind yet another forfeit also market-related reasons, if not a precise corporate strategy. The Ukrainian’s farewell in January, in fact, could facilitate the arrival of one or even two strikers: Raspadori, for whom Roma has already submitted an offer of an onerous loan with redemption set at 15 million, and Zirkzee, a longtime target but with the knowledge that United could release him only at the end of the month. In any case, tactical plans are once again blown.

Andrea Gussoni

For a week Gasperini had been preparing the match with the Grifone by relying on Dovbyk as an offensive reference, moving Dybala back to the three-quarter to bring him closer to Soulé. An attempt to strengthen an understanding that has existed off the field for some time, but that in the game has not yet produced significant results: only one goal on action in 502 minutes played together. All to go again. The Ukrainian’s injury dates back to Nov. 9, a left rectus femoris tendon injury. The initial prognosis was four weeks, maximum six, but with the absence in the last match of the year it is already eight weeks.

So Gasperini is thinking of relaunching Baldanzi, but not as a center forward: Dybala, already employed six times as a false nueve in the season, should return in that role. The numbers, however, do not smile: just three goals scored and four defeats, with the only victories against Sassuolo in the league and Midtjylland in Europe. The alternative to Baldanzi remains El Shaarawy, a complicated solution but not to be ruled out. Completing the light trident will be Soulé as always. Ferguson, however, remains an unknown: Gasperini expects more, especially in terms of attitude and hunger.

During a lengthy interview granted to DAZN, Daniele De Rossi, Genoa’s current coach, took stock of his experience in the Rossoblù but also retraced some stages of his past, dwelling in particular on his exoneration from Roma, the opponent he will face in a few days at the Olimpico.

“I’m sorry for the way things turned out but in the end the team had the exploit that I had predicted. I had a well-defined project: the first year to build, the second to grow and the third to fight for the Scudetto. It was not crazy to bet on that group, which I considered very strong. The presidents trusted me, at the technical level I had great freedom and they began to ask me for directions even in view of the next three years. Then something cracked and it is a shame, because I and my staff did not deserve what happened”.