Serie A: Lecce and Roma Draw 0-0

Roma’s latest additions have strengthened Gian Piero Gasperini’s squad, but the coach still wants two more pieces. Before the match at Lecce, he said the team needed a left-back and a striker, even as he prepared for the second league game of the season.

Roma had brought in Leonardo Balerdi from Marseille and Marten de Roon from Atalanta. De Roon’s arrival reunited him with Gasperini after their time together in Bergamo. The coach described both signings as opportunities and said they had given Roma greater physical strength and added two players with personality.

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To complete the squad, we need a left-back and a striker.

The reception for De Roon among Roma supporters had been cool, but Gasperini defended the Dutch midfielder. “He is a good person and a solid guy,” he said, adding that he too had initially been unpopular before opinions changed.

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He is a good person and a solid guy.

Roma was pursuing Luiz Henrique of Zenit for the left side. Stuttgart had rejected an initial offer for Jamie Leweling, while Chelsea and Lyon were resisting approaches for Gittens and Fofana. De Roon’s arrival could allow El Aynaoui to leave for Leipzig, while Vaz’s departure depended on the arrival of a striker. Gasperini also denied reports of talks for Matías Soulé.

The coach said he was pleased with the squad and believed Roma could build on last season. “We are a team with more solutions and greater robustness than last year,” Gasperini said. He also praised the team’s spirit, which he said ranked among the best.

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We are a team with more solutions and greater robustness than last year.