It’s a season of all change at Roma. After five consecutive years of Champions League qualification, last season’s sixth-placed finish has consigned them to the Europa League.
Consequently, manager Eusebio Di Francesco lost his job in March, while interim boss Claudio Ranieri has now been replaced by Paulo Fonseca. Director of Football Monchi has also left the club.
What’s more, the squad has a new look to it - gone are stalwarts like Daniele De Rossi and Kostas Manolas and talismanic striker Edin Dzeko is rumoured to follow them out the door. How will Roma fare without several of their dependable faces?
Table of Contents
- Pau Lopez (OVR 82 - 82)
- Alessandro Florenzi (OVR 82 - 82)
- Federico Fazio (OVR 82 - 80)
- Gianluca Mancini (OVR 70 - 78)
- Leonardo Spinazzola (OVR 77 - 79)
- Amadou Diawara (OVR 77 - 77)
- Bryan Cristante (OVR 78 - 78)
- Nicolo Zaniolo (OVR 64 - 76)
- Diego Perotti (OVR 81 - 81)
- Cengiz Under (OVR 77 - 78)
- Edin Dzeko (OVR 85 - 85)
- On the bench
RealSport looks at how they will line up and rate on FIFA 20.
Pau Lopez (OVR 82 - 82)
Position: GK
Age: 24
Country: Spain
Pau Lopez has seen his stock rise rapidly since moving to Real Betis on a free transfer last year. Not only has he earned a €30 million move to Roma, but he’s gained his first Spain call-up. At Roma, he’ll be faced with filling Alisson Becker’s boots, something Robin Olsen failed to do last year.
Alessandro Florenzi (OVR 82 - 82)
Position: RB, RW, LW
Age: 24
Country: Italy
Alessandro Florenzi enters the new season with an added weight of responsibility, taking over as captain from Daniele De Rossi. He’s been a very consistent performer for Roma over the years and adds plenty of versatility, adept as a winger, in midfield or as a fullback. His rating should remain at 82.
Federico Fazio (OVR 82 - 80)
Position: CB
Age: 32
Country: Argentina
Last season, Federico Fazio was considered the inferior half of a talented, but slightly underperforming centre-back partnership with Kostas Manolas. Now, with Manolas gone, he must adjust to being comfortably the most experienced centre-half in the squad. Still, rumours are persisting that Roma will buy another centre back, threatening Fazio’s place in the starting line-up.
Gianluca Mancini (OVR 70 - 78)
Position: CB
Age: 23
Country: Italy
Gianluca Mancini’s excellent performances with overachieving Atalanta last year have earned him a loan with an obligation-to-buy to Roma this summer. He’s Manolas’ long-term replacement and should slot straight into the team. Keep an eye on his surprising goal-scoring ability - he netted five in Serie A last term.
Leonardo Spinazzola (OVR 77 - 79)
Position: LWB, LM, LB
Age: 26
Country: Italy
Leonardo Spinazzola has moved to the Italian capital this summer in a deal worth just under €30 million that included Luca Pellegrini moving to Juventus. Despite spending two years out on loan, he was highly rated in Turin and put in a headline performance in Juve’s 3-0 victory over Atletico Madrid in the Champions League. Question marks remain over whether he can play in a back four, having spent most of his career in midfield or as a left wing-back.
Amadou Diawara (OVR 77 - 77)
Position: CM, CDM
Age: 22
Country: Guinea
Paulo Fonseca has placed a massive amount of faith in Amadou Diawara, acquiring him in a swap deal with Napoli that saw Manolas leave. He’s a hugely talented player but struggled for minutes in Naples. Expect him to operate in a similar role that saw Fred earn a big-money move from Fonseca’s Shakhtar Donetsk to Manchester United.
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Bryan Cristante (OVR 78 - 78)
Position: CM
Age: 24
Country: Italy
Bryan Cristante faces a battle with the likes of Lorenzo Pellegrini and Jordan Veretout for a starting spot in what is a crowded midfield. Cristante didn’t quite replicate his best Atalanta form during his first season in Rome, but was a solid and consistent option, appearing in 35 league games and scoring four goals.
Nicolo Zaniolo (OVR 64 - 76)
Position: CAM, CM, RW
Age: 20
Country: Italy
Zaniolo was the breakout star of last campaign, after moving to Roma as part of the Radja Nainggolan sale. He scored twice in the Champions League as well as earning his first Italy call-up at the tender age of 20. He’s certainly one to keep an eye on as he attempts to back-up a great first season in Rome.
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Diego Perotti (OVR 81 - 81)
Position: LW
Age: 31
Country: Argentina
Diego Perotti missed a good portion of last season to injury but was impressive when fit, scoring five in 13 league appearances. Although he’s naturally a winger, he’s a naturally winger but is also a good contender to fill in the no. 10 position in Fonseca’s preferred 4-2-3-1.
Cengiz Under (OVR 77 - 78)
Position: RW, RM
Age: 22
Country: Turkey
Cengiz Under is one of a number of talented young wingers in the Roma ranks, which also includes Zaniolo and Patrick Kluivert. He broke through in the 2017/18 season, scoring eight goals in the final 17 games of the campaign. Last season, he scored another six and assisted eight. He’s said to have caught Fonseca’s eye in pre-season and is likely to start on the right.
Edin Dzeko (OVR 85 - 85)
Position: ST
Age: 33
Country: Bosnia & Herzegovina
Edin Dzeko, despite his advancing years, has had a fine career in Rome, hitting great goalscoring numbers in each of his four years in the Italian capital. There are no doubts about his class, but there are persisting ones about whether he will be there next year - reportedly, he wants a new challenge. If he were to leave, it may well be part of a Serie A striker transfer merry-go-round involving Gonzalo Higuain and Mauro Icardi all swapping clubs.
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On the bench
After impressing when called upon last season, Antonio Mirante (OVR 80 - 80) will continue as second-choice keeper.
In defence, Juan Jesus (OVR 78 - 78) offers able cover at centre-back. Aleksandar Kolarov (OVR 78 - 78) may be getting on, but he still has a wand of a left foot and will feature fairly heavily.
New signing Jordan Veretout (OVR 79 - 79) and Lorenzo Pellegrini (OVR 78 - 79) will be part of a central midfield rotation. Pellegrini may also play behind the striker.
Out wide, Roma will be looking for more from wonderkid Justin Kluivert (OVR 75 - 76), son of ex-Barcelona striker Patrick Kluivert. Both Patrik Schick (OVR 77 - 77) and Gregoire Defrel (OVR 78 - 77) have been rumoured to leave Rome this summer, but expect one to stay to provide cover upfront.
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