There have been 18 seasonal appearances between the championship and the cup, with one lucky goal and an assist on record. The number 4 in yellow and red, no longer central nor irreplaceable.

Bryan Cristante is no longer a pivotal figure in Roma’s roster. Many might say, at last, considering that since his arrival in the Capital in summer 2018, the yellow-and-reds have finished the Serie A championship four times in sixth place, once in fifth, and once in seventh. A goal (albeit fortuitous, because it arrived with a decisive deflection, against Venezia) and an assist listed in his 18 games played between league and cup, underwhelming physical fitness, and the grumbles of the fans against him because of the team’s decidedly turbulent start to the season. With Ranieri at the helm, moreover, Roma seems to have found an ideal and fruitful setup even without their number 4: Kone, Paredes and Pisilli are offering significant responses to the coach every time they’re called upon, thus making Cristante appear to have slipped to third or fourth choice in the Roma mid-field. Already in the summer, discussions were underway regarding a possible transfer of the midfielder born in 1995, who thus does not appear to be indispensable at Trigoria and could potentially bid farewell to the Capital soon.

Marcello Spaziani