AS Roma’s New Ambition: Can Il Giallorossi Challenge for the Scudetto?
AS Roma are beginning to look like genuine contenders under Gian Piero Gasperini, with the Italian coach gradually turning the capital club into one of the more intriguing sides in Serie A.
Gasperini took charge last season with a reputation built on sustained success at Atalanta. He had guided La Dea to the Europa League title and led them into the Champions League on five occasions through their domestic league position, achievements that made him a logical choice for Roma as they sought a new direction following their split with Jose Mourinho.
His arrival also allowed Gasperini to reunite with several players he had previously coached in Bergamo. Bryan Cristante, Gianluca Mancini and Pierluigi Gollini were already familiar with his methods, providing a useful foundation as he attempted to implement his tactical ideas in Rome.
The project quickly began to take shape. Roma eventually finished third in Serie A last season, securing Champions League qualification in the process. Their campaign was strengthened further by the arrival of Donyell Malen during the winter transfer window, giving Gasperini another attacking weapon at a crucial stage of the season.
The club have now backed their coach even more heavily ahead of his second campaign. Roma invested more than €120 million in new signings, while also making Malen’s move permanent.
Santiago Castro, Konstantinos Koulierakis and Rodrigo Mora were among the notable additions, with several of the new arrivals already being integrated into the first-team squad. The early returns have been encouraging.
Roma have made an emphatic start to the new season, dismantling both Fiorentina and Lecce by identical 4-0 scorelines. Gasperini’s 3-4-2-1 system has immediately begun to produce results, while Malen has continued the momentum he built after arriving midway through last season.
The Netherlands international has already scored five goals, establishing himself as one of the key figures in Roma’s attacking structure. That kind of form inevitably raises the question of whether Roma could eventually challenge for the Scudetto.
It is still too early to make definitive predictions, but the timing may be favourable for a club that has not seriously competed for the Serie A title since Luciano Spalletti’s final season in charge in 2016/17. Under Gasperini, Roma now appear to have both the tactical framework and squad depth needed to at least enter the conversation around the top two.
Their biggest domestic obstacle will be Inter Milan, who dominated last season after winning both the Scudetto and the Coppa Italia. Roma may not yet have the same level of proven consistency, but their squad appears better equipped than many of the traditional challengers to put pressure on the Nerazzurri.
Perhaps more importantly, the club still have the financial flexibility to address weaknesses that emerge during the campaign. Roma have already demonstrated a willingness to return to the market when circumstances demand it, with Malen’s arrival in January serving as a clear example. The Champions League will provide another major test.
Roma face a formidable league-phase schedule, with matches against Fenerbahce, Real Madrid, Slovan Bratislava, Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain, Sporting CP, AEK Athens and Lille. The calibre of those opponents should give Gasperini an immediate measure of how close his team are to competing at the highest level in Europe.
For Roma, the European campaign is not merely about results. It is also an opportunity to test the limits of a squad that has been carefully constructed around Gasperini’s ideas.
The coach will also be under pressure to justify the level of investment made by the club. Owner Dan Friedkin has consistently shown a willingness to support the team financially, while also being prepared to act during the January transfer window when reinforcements are deemed necessary.
That combination of managerial expertise and financial backing could be crucial. Gasperini has the tactical experience to build a competitive side, while Friedkin has demonstrated the willingness to provide the resources required to strengthen it.
If those two elements continue to work in harmony, Roma could accelerate their return to the upper reaches of Italian football. The Giallorossi have spent years searching for consistency at the highest level. Now, under Gasperini, they appear to have a project capable of delivering something more substantial.
A Scudetto challenge may still be premature to predict, but Roma have made enough progress to suggest that the sleeping giant of the Italian capital could finally be preparing to roar again. For I Lupi, the 2026/27 season may prove to be the moment when ambition turns into genuine contention.
