Rome, so many injuries: Pellegrini is also sidelined, and high-profile free agents are back in demand

It never rains but it pours for Roma, at least when it comes to injuries. The results of the medical tests Lorenzo Pellegrini underwent on Thursday confirmed the worst-case scenario: a high-grade flexor injury that is likely to keep him sidelined for several weeks. This is a major blow for Gian Piero Gasperini, who is losing a key player at a time when he’s already dealing with several injuries across all positions.

The Giallorossi’s No. 7 being sidelined further complicates an already difficult situation for the Rome-based club’s roster. With an increasingly crowded infirmary (Pellegrini joins Mile Svilar, Manu Koné, and Paulo Dybala on the list), the squad’s depth to handle the grueling pace of the dual commitments in Serie A and the Champions League has suddenly become very thin. Rotation options are reduced to a minimum, and fatigue risks becoming a decisive factor in upcoming matches.

For this very reason, the front office is seriously considering the possibility of urgently returning to the free-agent market without waiting for the winter transfer window to reopen, and at the top of their wish list is Jadon Sancho. The former Manchester United and Borussia Dortmund player would be a top-tier fit for the attacking midfield, though there is no shortage of alternatives, such as Anthony Martial and Wilfried Zaha.

On the other hand, the options that emerged in recent weeks—primarily linked to Raphael Guerreiro and Tanguy Ndombelé—are losing ground, with the latter’s situation further complicated by a physical condition that is far from reassuring, due to a groin injury that has hampered him over his last two seasons at Nice. In the coming hours, a decision will be made on whether to grit their teeth and rely on internal resources or to make a free-agent move to prevent the injury crisis from derailing the Giallorossi’s ambitions.