Roma market, Gian Piero Gasperini’s comeback makes Juventus smile
Roma soccer market: Gian Piero Gasperini could solve one of the problems of his squad … by solving one, now atavistic, that has long gripped Juventus. As a possible centerpiece of his midfield next season, in fact, the coach from Grugliasco could re-embrace Teun Koopmeiners, one of the symbols of his Atalanta side who never managed to confirm Bergamo’s numbers in the Bianconero.
The suggestion comes from the ‘Gazzetta dello Sport’, which pointed out Juventus’ longstanding interest in Evan Ndicka. The Ivorian defender appeals to the Piedmontese management, aware, however, that the player has a contract with Roma until 2028. That is why, also to amortize the 40-million-euro expenditure that his tag requires, Koopmeiners called to make the opposite trip could be part of the deal. And Gasperini might look favorably on this solution.
After all, it was he who converted him from a midfielder to a forwards until making him a full-fledged trequartista at Atalanta. The numbers speak for themselves: in three years in the Nerazzurri, the Dutchman has recorded an impressive 29 goals to his credit while just seven are for Juventus after two nearly full seasons. It should not be forgotten that the last match played by Koopmeiners with Gasperini as coach remains the 2024 Europa League final, when in Dublin the Bergamasks beat Bayer Leverkusen with a round 3-0.
The valuation that Juventus makes of Koopmeiners’ player’s card is around 30 million euros, a figure that would make the possible transaction with Roma economically viable, especially if included in a swap involving Ndicka. After all, the Old Lady has already shown this season that they do not want to blindly bet on the Dutchman: in recent weeks Koopmeiners has even been adapted in the backline, showing how Luciano Spalletti has been looking for alternative solutions to enhance him without fully succeeding.
It is no mystery that the relationship between Koopmeiners and Juventus has never reached the levels hoped for. When the transfer was made official in August 2024, the Dutchman had presented himself with great ambitions: “For me it is a dream, I am very happy and I have wanted to wear these colors for a long time. For me, Juventus is the most important club in Italy. I want to give everything, run a lot and put a lot of energy into it. I want to win and that is why I am here.” Words that today, in light of an abundant season and a half below expectations, sound like a promise that has remained largely unfulfilled.
Even Gasperini, at the time of Atalanta’s sale of Koopmeiners, had dismissed the matter with some coolness: “He got what he wanted. He gave us a lot while he was there, but now everyone is happy. He is, Juventus is, and so is Atalanta. It’s okay, everyone lived happily ever after.” A far from warm farewell, but one that never concealed the Grugliasco coach’s technical esteem for the midfielder. Now that esteem could turn into something concrete, with Roma called to build around Gasperini a competitive team after a season also marked by internal tensions related to Claudio Ranieri’s farewell and public frictions with sporting director Frederic Massara.
