Gasperini Calls Greenwood as Roma Pursues Transfer Deal
Gian Piero Gasperini has moved to the front line of Roma’s pursuit of Mason Greenwood, personally calling the forward to ask for time while the club build their offer to Marseille.
According to Corriere dello Sport, the Roma coach has told the 24-year-old to “wait” as the Giallorossi try to turn weeks of groundwork into a concrete agreement. It is a rare step for a manager, and a clear sign of how central Greenwood is to Roma’s attacking rebuild.
A manager tired of compromises
Gasperini did not hide his frustration with Roma’s attacking options during the 2025-26 campaign. Too many games without a cutting edge, too many missed chances in big moments. In Greenwood, he sees a direct, technical forward capable of lifting the entire front line and anchoring a serious push for the Scudetto next season.
So he has stepped in himself. No intermediaries, no distance. A direct conversation to convince the former Manchester United forward that Rome is the right stage for the next phase of his career.
The message seems to have landed. Greenwood is described as keen on the move to the Stadio Olimpico and has already agreed personal terms in principle. The proposed contract features a tiered salary structure, starting at €4 million net per season, with room to grow if the partnership works.
Door opens as rivals fade
Fenerbahce were once in the running, but their interest has cooled after recent club elections shifted priorities in Istanbul. With that, one of Roma’s main competitors has stepped away, leaving the Italian side with a clearer run at the deal.
Roma’s ownership have seized the moment. Ryan Friedkin is reported to be in direct contact with Greenwood’s camp, outlining not just the financial package but the specific role the Englishman would play in the capital: a key piece, not a luxury option.
The club’s intent is obvious. They are not circling. They are closing in.
The money gap
One obstacle remains, and it is a big one: the fee.
Marseille, under pressure to generate significant income to satisfy Financial Fair Play requirements, need to sell at least one major asset. Greenwood, after a productive spell in Ligue 1, is at the top of that list. The French club are holding firm on a valuation in the region of €55 million.
Roma are preparing to test that stance. Their opening proposal is expected to come in at around €40 million including bonuses. On top of that, the Italians are willing to explore a structure built around an initial loan with an obligation to buy, spreading the cost over time.
For Marseille, that kind of deal is less attractive. They need cash now, not promises later, which makes the negotiations as much about structure as about headline numbers.
Old Trafford watching closely
The talks are not just of interest in Rome and Marseille. Manchester United are watching every development.
When United sold Greenwood to Marseille, they inserted a significant sell-on clause into the agreement. Any permanent transfer this summer would trigger that clause and send a percentage of the fee back to Old Trafford, adding a useful boost to their own transfer budget.
Roma, aware of the financial puzzle, are even prepared to include a sell-on clause of their own, potentially above 10 per cent, to help bridge the valuation gap and tempt Marseille into accepting a lower guaranteed sum now in exchange for a slice of a future sale.
Greenwood prepares for the next move
While the clubs haggle over millions and clauses, Greenwood’s actions suggest his mind is already made up. Reports indicate he has begun the process of vacating his home in France, anticipating a move across the Alps.
The phone call from Gasperini, the direct involvement of Friedkin, the contract terms already mapped out — Roma have laid out their vision and are pushing hard to make it reality.
Now the question is simple: will Marseille’s need for immediate liquidity bend enough to let Greenwood trade the Mediterranean for the Curva Sud and a central role in Roma’s bid to climb back to the top of Serie A?
