Roma have intensified their search for a wing-back to complement Wesley, targeting Strasbourg’s 21-year-old Diego Moreira among several options as the club reshuffles its wide play. Strasbourg’s €35m valuation and Moreira’s World Cup minutes will shape negotiations, while alternatives such as Matteo Ruggeri and Lorenzo Bernasconi offer cheaper, familiar profiles amid strained dealings with Atalanta.
Roma's urgent need on the flank
Roma face a clear roster problem: Wesley has become the club’s primary attacking outlet on one flank, but the opposite wing remains unsettled. Angeliño’s injuries and uncertain future, Kostas Tsimikas’s departure back to Liverpool, and the possible exit of Anass Salah-Eddine mean Roma must add a full-back capable of both defending and supplying pace and width.
Diego Moreira emerges as a top target
Diego Moreira, a 21-year-old Belgian full-back currently at Strasbourg, has entered Roma’s plans as a player who matches the manager’s preference for mobile, attack-minded defenders. Strasbourg have placed a roughly €35m valuation on Moreira — a price that could soften depending on his World Cup minutes and market appetite this summer.
For Roma, Moreira ticks boxes for age, upside and the ability to operate both as a traditional full-back and an inverted wing-back in Gasperini-influenced tactics.
Why the profile matters: Wesley, balance and tactical fit
Last season made clear why Roma need balance. Wesley’s pace and goal threat forced opponents to respect one flank; Roma now need a reliable counterpart who preserves width, recycles possession and covers defensively when Wesley drifts inside. A specialist on the opposite wing would free the Brazilian to play higher and more directly, increasing Roma’s attacking unpredictability.
Squad context: departures and loan recalls
Angeliño’s fitness history and links to a return to Spain have left a gap. Tsimikas’s loan has ended and Kostas returns to Liverpool, while Anass Salah-Eddine — fresh from a strong spell at PSV — is not guaranteed to stay. That instability makes the full-back market a priority for sporting directors this window.
Alternative targets and obstacles
Roma are monitoring several alternatives to Moreira. Matteo Ruggeri and Lorenzo Bernasconi represent cheaper options — both fitting a coach who favors aggressive wide defenders — and are valued closer to €25m. However, a potential deal with Atalanta could be complicated by tense relations after personnel moves between the clubs. Other names linked to the left- and right-sided full-back market include Nicoló Savona, Dodó (Fiorentina) and Merlin (Rennes), each offering different trade-offs in experience, price and tactical fit.
Market dynamics to watch
Three factors will shape Roma’s approach this summer:
- Valuation sensitivity: Transfer fees remain the biggest barrier; a €35m tag forces Roma to weigh upside against budget discipline.
- World Cup exposure: Moreira’s performances for Belgium can raise or lower bargaining leverage.
- Inter-club politics: Strained relationships — notably with Atalanta — complicate swaps or straightforward negotiations.
What this signing would mean
Securing a right-sided full-back with attacking instincts would materially improve Roma’s balance and allow Wesley to play more decisively higher up the pitch. The choice between an established scorer of potential (Moreira) and cheaper, familiar producers (Ruggeri, Bernasconi) reflects a broader strategic fork: invest now in upside, or minimize risk and integrate a ready-made option.
Outlook
Expect Roma to pursue Moreira while keeping alternatives active until valuations and club dynamics clarify. The World Cup and early summer negotiations will determine whether Roma pay a premium or pivot to a more pragmatic solution.
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Either way, strengthening the opposite wing is a necessary move if Roma want to convert last season’s flashes of attacking threat into consistent results.
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