Roma may have found a new defender for next season, and he doesn’t even have to go too far from home
Roma, che colpo in difesa per l’estate: è una vecchia conoscenza (Foto: Ansa) – serieanews.com
Sometimes the soccer market resembles a novel full of twists and turns. There are players who seem destined for a future away from Roma, relegated to the margins of the Giallorossi project. Instead, they suddenly return to the spotlight.
One of them is having an extraordinary year in Spain, establishing himself as a defensive pillar of his team. He will return to base in July, and the Capitoline club’s choice to sell him on a dry loan to Espanyol, with no redemption option, is proving to be a cheering operation. Now the Giallorossi have the upper hand: they can decide whether to reinstate him or monetize from his sale.
We are talking about Marash Kumbulla, a name that Roma fans know well. Only 25 years old, after several complicated seasons, the Albanian defender is finally showing his full potential. An obvious growth, certified by the numbers he has put together in La Liga.
Numeri da top in Spagna: Kumbulla sta salendo in cattedra
Marash’s season in Spain is one of real significance. One only has to look at some statistics that NumeroDiez provided to realize the impact Kumbulla has had in La Liga:
Numeri da top in Spagna: Kumbulla sta salendo in cattedra (AnsaFoto) – serieanews.com
20 partite giocate e 1644 minuti in campo, segno di una centralità assoluta nell’Espanyol dove ha saltato finora 0 partite;
30 duelli aerei vinti nella propria area, miglior dato della squadra;
108 salvataggi, che certificano il suo istinto difensivo;
21 blocchi e 92 duelli vinti, numeri che parlano di un difensore che sa metterci il fisico;
617 passaggi corti riusciti, dimostrazione della sua sicurezza in costruzione.
Big numbers for a defender who, at just 20 years old, was considered one of the most interesting prospects in Italian soccer. Not surprisingly, Roma invested 28.5 million euros in total to secure him from Verona. But his adventure in the Giallorossi has not been easy: between injuries and unfavorable technical choices, Kumbulla has struggled to carve out a starring role for himself.
Next will be a burdensome market for Roma, which will have to renew quite a lot after a very complicated year that has challenged several of the current players. There could be a new attempt for Frattesi from Inter in addition to other negotiations that will prove costly, so an operation practically at zero cost for the Capitoline coffers would not be bad at all.
La Roma ha un tesoro in casa: che ne sarà di Kumbulla?
And now? Now the situation has changed. Espanyol would do anything to keep him, but will have to put a convincing offer on the table. Other teams could also enter the race for Kumbulla, attracted by a central player with Serie A experience and a star season in La Liga.
(AnsaFoto) – serieanews.com
There is, however, one option that tantalizes: Roma may decide to give him another chance. If the next coach, on whom Ranieri has been working for some time, opts for a three-man defense, the scenario could change completely. It would not be a foolish move. It was precisely with this module, in the days of Verona, that Kumbulla had shown all his value, attracting the interest of the best Italian clubs.
The upcoming summer training camp will be decisive in understanding his future. Roma is in a privileged position: it has the player under contract and has seen his value rise again. It can choose whether to bet on him again or sell him by the pound. One thing is certain: this time Roma will dictate the terms.
The question is, what if he is the perfect defensive reinforcement for next season? Maybe it will be Kumbulla’s return that will solve the Giallorossi’s defensive gaps, avoiding the need to look elsewhere for a similar profile. Soccer sometimes offers solutions that were already before our eyes.
This article Roma, what a defensive coup for the summer: it’s an old acquaintance appeared in its original version first on SerieANews.
