With the Sulemana track cooling down, Roma accelerate talks with Bayern Munich for Bryan Zaragoza — a profile tailor-made for Gasperini’s attacking ideas.
Roma are gaining momentum on the transfer market, and the name now leading the race to reinforce the attack is Bryan Zaragoza. The Spanish winger, owned by Bayern Munich and currently on loan at Celta Vigo, has emerged as the most concrete option to complete Gian Piero Gasperini’s offensive setup.
After encountering growing complications in the pursuit of Kamaldeen Sulemana — caught between Atalanta’s internal domino effect and strong competition from Napoli — Roma sporting director Frederic Massara decisively changed course. Zaragoza is now the priority, and negotiations with Bayern are at an advanced stage.
The structure of the deal is taking shape as a loan with an option to buy, with the total valuation expected to fall between €10 and €12 million. An additional layer involves compensating Celta Vigo for the early termination of Zaragoza’s current loan, a detail that Roma are actively working to resolve. The feeling in Trigoria is that the pieces are lining up quickly, with a final green light potentially arriving within hours.
Why Zaragoza Fits Gasperini
Zaragoza is more than a market opportunity — he’s a technical idea. At Roma, he is viewed as the type of player Gasperini has historically elevated: compact in stature, explosive in movement, and decisive in tight spaces. The comparison circulating inside the club is telling — a modern echo of Alejandro Gómez, the creative spark who became the symbol of Gasperini’s Atalanta.
Standing just 1.64 meters tall, Zaragoza is a right-footed winger who prefers starting on the left, cutting inside, and destabilizing defenses through dribbling and acceleration. He thrives in one-on-one situations and in fluid attacking systems — exactly the environment Gasperini wants to recreate in Rome.
Born in Málaga in 2001, Zaragoza rose through Granada after multiple loan spells, earning a move to Bayern Munich for €13 million plus bonuses. His time in Germany did not fully ignite, leading to a return to La Liga with Osasuna and then Celta Vigo. This season, he has totaled 26 appearances, 2 goals, and 4 assists — numbers that don’t tell the full story of a player still searching for continuity and confidence.
Clear Signals from Spain
One of the strongest indicators of an imminent move came this weekend, when Zaragoza was left out of Celta Vigo’s squad for the match against Getafe. Head coach Claudio Giráldez openly addressed the situation, admitting that the player was not mentally ready due to an ongoing transfer negotiation.
Behind the scenes, Zaragoza is actively pushing for the move. The chance to work under Gasperini — a coach renowned for unlocking attacking talent — is seen by the player as the ideal opportunity to relaunch his career after a challenging period.
What Comes Next
While Massara continues to keep alternative options alive as a safety net, Zaragoza remains the name that excites Roma the most. He represents both a tactical solution and a statement of intent: not a gamble, but a targeted bet on a talent ready to be reshaped.
Roma are waiting. Zaragoza is ready. And Gasperini hopes the formula that once produced a “Papu” can work its magic again — this time at the Olimpico.
