Roma Crisis: Gasperini Future Uncertain Amid Dressing Room Row

AS Roma in Crisis: Gasperini's Future, Dressing Room Drama, and Transfer Market Moves

AS Roma find themselves at a crossroads in the 2025/26 season, with turbulence both on and off the pitch threatening to derail what was meant to be a transformative campaign. Following their Europa League elimination by Bologna and a heated behind-closed-doors confrontation involving coach Gian Piero Gasperini, the Giallorossi are generating headlines for all the wrong reasons. Yet amid the chaos, Roma are still actively investing in the future — signing young talents and scouting the next generation of stars. Here's everything you need to know about what's happening at Roma right now.

The Dressing Room Confrontation That Has Rome Talking

On March 22, 2026, Roma secured a narrow 1-0 win over Lecce — a result that should have provided some relief after a turbulent week. Instead, the victory was overshadowed by reports of a fiery dressing room outburst from coach Gasperini following the final whistle. According to multiple reports, Gasperini raised his voice at players after the match, yet conspicuously refused to speak to the media afterward, with the club citing a lost voice as the official explanation.

The dressing room incident didn't emerge in isolation. Reports surfaced of a heated confrontation between Gasperini, Roma co-owner Ryan Friedkin, sporting director Frederic Massara, and club legend and advisor Claudio Ranieri — a meeting that reportedly took place just days earlier, directly following Roma's Europa League exit to Bologna. The nature of the fallout has left the Roman footballing community speculating about who, if anyone, will still be at the club come the summer.

Pundit Lele Adani has weighed in on the situation publicly, calling for transparency from the club's hierarchy. Adani argued that Gasperini deserves respect and a clear explanation, and that Roma need to have the courage to be honest about the situation — a pointed criticism of how the club has handled the crisis in public.

Gasperini's Future at Roma: Who Will Leave in the Summer?

The central question hanging over the Stadio Olimpico is simple: who stays and who goes? Reports now suggest that at least one of Gasperini, Massara, or Ranieri will depart Roma at the end of the season — but the exact outcome remains unclear, with internal politics seemingly playing as large a role as on-pitch results.

Gasperini, who built an extraordinary legacy at Atalanta before taking on the Rome challenge, has found the step up to managing a club of Roma's complexity far more difficult than anticipated. Roma have lost 14 games across all competitions this season, a tally that would be unacceptable for a club with European ambitions. Their Europa League campaign — once seen as a genuine route to silverware — ended in disappointment against Bologna, compounding pressure on all involved.

With Roma also struggling to secure a top-four finish in Serie A, the pressure on Gasperini has become immense. Whether the board backs him for another season or opts for wholesale changes in the dugout and boardroom, the decisions made in the coming weeks will define Roma's direction for years to come.

Robinio Vaz: A €30 Million Bet on the Future

Amid the boardroom drama, there is at least one story providing genuine optimism for Roma supporters: the emergence of Robinio Vaz. The 18-year-old French striker, signed permanently from Marseille in January 2026 for €30 million (€25 million fixed fee plus €5 million in bonuses), marked the Lecce win with his first goal for the club — coming off the bench to replace El Aynaoui and make an immediate impact.

The full details behind Roma's move for Vaz reveal a carefully structured deal that Massara worked hard to put together. Vaz has signed a contract with the club until June 2030 and is earning approximately €2 million per season — modest wages for a player of his potential. For Roma, it represents a long-term investment in attacking quality, with the belief that Vaz can develop into a cornerstone of the squad over the next several years.

Scoring on his second appearance as a substitute is exactly the kind of statement moment Roma were hoping for when they authorized the significant outlay. Whether the club retains the personnel who identified and signed him — namely Massara — remains to be seen.

Roma and Napoli Target Salzburg Sensation Kerim Alajbegovic

Even as the club navigates internal turbulence, Roma's recruitment team has not stood still. The latest name linked with a move to the Italian capital is Kerim Alajbegovic, a Bosnian attacking winger born in 2007 and currently turning heads at Red Bull Salzburg.

Roma and Napoli have both set their sights on the Salzburg starlet, setting up a potential transfer battle between two of Serie A's most ambitious clubs. Napoli sporting director Giovanni Manna has reportedly been monitoring Alajbegovic's development closely, while Roma are equally keen to bring the teenager to Rome.

At just 18 years old (born in 2007), Alajbegovic represents the kind of high-ceiling talent that elite European clubs are increasingly targeting before they fully mature. Salzburg have a well-established track record of developing and selling elite young players — the likes of Erling Haaland and Sadio Mané passed through the Austrian club's system — making Alajbegovic a particularly credible prospect. Whether Roma or Napoli win the race, or whether a non-Italian club enters the picture, remains to be seen as the summer transfer window approaches.

Squad Uncertainty: Celik and Contract Talks Stalling

The upheaval at Roma is not limited to the managerial situation. Turkish right-back Zeki Celik appears ready to become a free agent after contract renewal talks with Roma have stalled, adding further uncertainty to a squad already dealing with significant disruption.

Celik's potential departure on a free transfer would represent a frustrating outcome for the club, who would receive no transfer fee for a player they signed for around €7 million from Lille. It is indicative of broader planning issues that have plagued Roma in recent seasons — a disconnect between short-term results and long-term squad building that the next sporting structure, whoever it comprises, will need to address urgently.

What Needs to Change at AS Roma

The picture at Roma right now is one of a club at an inflection point. The Friedkin family's ownership has delivered investment and ambition, but also instability — a revolving door of managers and directors that has prevented any coherent project from taking root. Gasperini arrived with enormous credibility, but a difficult squad situation and apparent friction at board level have undermined his position.

For Roma to rebuild credibly, several things need to happen: clear communication about the coaching situation, a decisive plan for the transfer window, and genuine alignment between the sporting and ownership structures. The talent is present — Vaz's goal against Lecce is evidence of that — but talent alone cannot paper over structural cracks.

The summer of 2026 will be defining. Roma supporters have experienced too many false dawns to celebrate prematurely, but they will be hoping that the decisions made in the coming months finally provide the platform for a sustained push toward the top of Italian football.

Frequently Asked Questions About AS Roma's Current Situation

Is Gian Piero Gasperini leaving AS Roma?

Reports as of late March 2026 suggest that either Gasperini, sporting director Frederic Massara, or advisor Claudio Ranieri will leave Roma at the end of the season. No official announcement has been made, but internal tensions following the Europa League exit to Bologna appear to have made a significant change in personnel likely.

What happened in Roma's dressing room after the Lecce match?

Following Roma's 1-0 win over Lecce on March 22, 2026, coach Gasperini reportedly raised his voice at players in the dressing room. He subsequently refused to speak to the media, with the club citing a lost voice. Reports also emerged of a separate confrontation between Gasperini, co-owner Ryan Friedkin, Massara, and Ranieri after the Europa League exit to Bologna.

Who is Robinio Vaz and how much did Roma pay for him?

Robinio Vaz is an 18-year-old French striker signed permanently from Marseille in January 2026 for €30 million (€25m fixed + €5m in bonuses). He scored his first Roma goal against Lecce, coming on as a substitute. He is contracted to the club until June 2030 on approximately €2 million per year.

Who is Kerim Alajbegovic?

Kerim Alajbegovic is a Bosnian attacking winger born in 2007, currently playing for Red Bull Salzburg. Both Roma and Napoli are reportedly monitoring the teenager, setting up a potential Serie A transfer battle. Napoli sporting director Giovanni Manna has been particularly active in tracking his progress.

How has Roma's season gone in 2025/26?

It has been a difficult campaign. Roma have lost 14 matches across all competitions, were eliminated from the Europa League by Bologna, and are struggling to secure a top-four finish in Serie A. The combination of poor results and reported dressing room tensions has put significant pressure on coach Gasperini and the club's hierarchy.

Conclusion

AS Roma's 2025/26 season has become a story of contradictions: a €30 million teenage striker scoring his first goal in the same week that his coach reportedly explodes in the dressing room; a club scouting the next generation of European talent while its current squad crumbles. The coming weeks will determine the futures of Gasperini, Massara, Ranieri, and the club's direction as a whole. For Roma supporters, clarity — and a credible plan — cannot come soon enough.