Pellegrini future in serious doubt with Roma contract running down | OneFootball

The future of Lorenzo Pellegrini at Roma is increasingly in doubt after the formal decision to remove the captain’s armband and stalled talks over a new contract.

New coach Gian Piero Gasperini announced that he would hand the captaincy in any match to whoever had the most appearances for the club.

It is a change of tactic that means Pellegrini is no longer automatically the first choice for the role, despite being one of the few remaining players who was born and bred in the Giallorossi youth academy.

Pellegrini unsure of Roma position

AS Roma’s Lorenzo Pellegrini celebrates after scoring the 1-0 goal during the Italian Serie A soccer match between AS Roma and SS Lazio, in Rome, Italy, 05 January 2025. EPA-EFE/ETTORE FERRARI

This is only the latest setback after a tense rapport developed between the midfielder and a certain section of the fans.

His future is up in the air, as his current contract only runs to the end of this season and talks for an extension seem to have hit a brick wall.

Roma are not prepared to maintain the salary of €6m per season net and it increasingly looks as if he will either be sold or leave as a free agent next summer.

ROME, ITALY – DECEMBER 12: Lorenzo Pellegrini of AS Roma celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the UEFA Europa League 2024/25 League Phase MD6 match between AS Roma and SC Braga at Stadio Olimpico on December 12, 2024 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)

It would be a sad end to the experience after amassing 316 official appearances in the Roma jersey, where he scored 55 goals and provided 59 assists.

Pellegrini only just celebrated his 29th birthday in June, so is far from at the end of his career.