Roma: Vaz at the centre of internal tensions despite himself

The situation has become tense in recent days at AS Roma, where Gian Piero Gasperini and his sporting director Ricky Massara no longer fully share the same vision. At the heart of the discussions are the transfer window and certain recent decisions, with the case of Robinio Vaz in the spotlight.

Renowned for his strong-willed character, Gian Piero Gasperini is already causing a stir at Roma. At the heart of the internal tensions is Robinio Vaz, signed during the last winter transfer window.

A divisive figure

Having arrived from Olympique de Marseille for €25m, Vaz has never been the Italian manager’s priority. Faced with the repeated absences of Paulo Dybala and Artem Dovbyk, the manager was hoping for an experienced reinforcement to secure a Champions League spot. Betting on a 19-year-old, seen as nothing more than a gamble on the future, immediately put the coach on the back foot.

On the other hand, Ricky Massara and the board have a different approach. Constrained by tight finances, Roma are betting on high-potential players capable of increasing in value. The Mantes-la-Jolie native fits into this strategy of deferred returns, just like the young Jan Ziolkowski and Mattia Della Rocca, to name but a few.

A fragile peace

Faced with this deadlock, the owners have called for calm, according to *La Gazzetta dello Sport*. Claudio Ranieri, acting as a mediator, is trying to keep the lines of communication open, whilst Roma, currently sixth in Serie A, are just three points behind fourth-placed Como. The idea is simple: to prevent these behind-the-scenes tensions from derailing the final sprint.

On the pitch, however, the former Marseille player is starting to deliver. His decisive goal against Lecce (1-0) on Sunday, his first in Italy, secured a precious victory and shook up the status quo. For beyond the transfer market disagreements, Vaz’s form could well become the final arbiter of a deeper conflict, which will be resolved by the summer.