Tensions are rising at Roma due to the availability of wing-back Wesley Franca, straining the relationship between coach Gian Piero Gasperini and senior advisor Claudio Ranieri. Ranieri's recent comments about Gasperini's appointment have exacerbated the situation.
Key points
Wesley Franca's availability is causing tensions at Roma.
Gasperini and Ranieri are reportedly ignoring each other.
Ranieri criticized Gasperini's appointment as head coach.
Gasperini was surprised by Ranieri's recent comments.
Mentioned in this story
Gian Piero GasperiniClaudio Ranieri
RomaAtalanta
Wesley issue also causing friction between Gasperini and Ranieri at Roma
Wesley issue also causing friction between Gasperini and Ranieri at Roma
The availability of Roma wing-back Wesley Franca is also contributing to the ongoing tensions between head coach Gian Piero Gasperini and senior advisor to the club Claudio Ranieri, and the latest updates hint towards the Brazilian not being available to face Atalanta in Serie A this weekend.
Internal divisions have broken out in the Roma camp. Last week, Ranieri gave an interview claiming that Gasperini was not in the clubâs top three candidates for the head coach role prior to his appointment last summer, also hitting back at the tactician for his previous criticism of the players that the club brought in during the transfer window.
Now, reports in Italy indicate that the situation has already become untenable and that the clubâs owners will have to decide whether to side with Gasperini or with Ranieri and sporting director Ricky Massara. It currently appears unlikely that both parties will still be at the club for the start of the 2026-27 season.
Q&A
What is causing the friction between Gasperini and Ranieri at Roma?
The friction is primarily due to the unavailability of Wesley Franca and Ranieri's comments regarding Gasperini's appointment as head coach.
How did Claudio Ranieri criticize Gian Piero Gasperini?
Ranieri claimed that Gasperini was not among the top three candidates for the head coach role before his appointment and criticized his remarks about the players brought in during the transfer window.
Is Wesley Franca available to play against Atalanta?
Latest updates indicate that Wesley Franca is not expected to be available for the match against Atalanta this weekend.
What was Gian Piero Gasperini's reaction to Ranieri's comments?
Gasperini expressed that he was 'surprised' by the comments made by Ranieri about him.
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Gasperini and Ranieri also in disagreement over Wesley availability
ROME, ITALY â MARCH 01: Wesley of AS Roma during the Serie A match between AS Roma and Juventus FC at Stadio Olimpico on March 01, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)
According to reports from La Gazzetta dello Sport on Friday, Gasperini and Ranieri are also in disagreement over the availability of wing-back Wesley for Saturdayâs crucial Serie A match against Atalanta.
Injuries have been an issue for Roma all season and Gasperini has constantly criticised both the recruitment of injury-prone players such as Evan Ferguson and Leon Bailey, as well as the handling of their situations by the clubâs medical staff.
Wesley, meanwhile, along with January recruit Donyell Malen, are the two signings that Gasperini has previously singled out as examples to follow in the future, but the Brazilian has now also been unavailable for the last three Serie A matches, one through suspension and two as the result of a hamstring injury.
NAPLES, ITALY â FEBRUARY 15: Amir Rrahmani of SSC Napoli causes a penalty for AS Roma committing a foul on Wesley of AS Roma during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and AS Roma at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on February 15, 2026 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Wesley has been training individually this week and Gasperini had hoped that he would be back and available to play against Atalanta this weekend. The advice from the medical staff, however, is that he is not ready, which prevented him from training with the group on Friday. That is despite the fact that Wesley himself feels okay to play.
Gasperini has also called upon the advice of an external doctor, Dr. Georg Ahlmaumer, despite the advice from the clubâs medical staff. The coach feels that Wesleyâs return is behind schedule, while Ranieri, siding with the clubâs medical staff, feels that the Brazilian is being rushed back.
La Gazzetta dello Sport describes the Wesley situation as the âstraw that broke the camelâs backâ in the relationship between Gasperini and Ranieri.
New Roma coach Gian Piero Gasperini with Claudio Ranieri and Florent Ghisolfi
Gasperini has since had an opportunity to discuss the Wesley situation during his pre-Atalanta press conference on Friday.
âWesley currently feels he can play, but the medical staff believes there are risks,â Gasperini insisted.
âThis also leads to issues and discussions. Weâll see what happens tomorrow, but if the doctors say no, I can only follow that. Everything depends on medical clearance. Itâs a shame to have lost Pellegrini. Pisilli picked up an ankle sprain at the start of the week. He seems to have recovered; weâll assess him today.â
