It resonated in the stadiums of the last World Cup, on social media, in the gatherings of thousands of Argentine fans around the world: “ Esta locura, no la traten de entender. No tiene cura, se lleva en la piel” – “Don't try to understand this madness. It has no cure; it's engraved on your very skin.” An excerpt from the song 'Pa la Seleccion', which perfectly describes the soul of this Roma. After all, being Argentine and applying that nature to football makes almost all players from that territory special.
Roma's decision to create an Argentine contingent around Dybala and Soulè is paying off. Indomitable, strong in character, and capable of carrying the group forward. It's no coincidence that Roma came from behind against Atalanta and Napoli in the two matches they won. In both cases, the Argentine substitutions from the bench, deployed en masse by Gasperini, changed Roma's game.
Dybala and Soulè, along with Balerdi, Castro, and Molina , each with their own important contribution, impacted almost every match Roma played. In Naples, the principle was sublime: Soulè's splendid curling goal from outside the box, his third of the season; Balerdi scored a brace in the 89th minute, leaping in anger in the penalty area like a seasoned center forward, and instead of celebrating with his teammates, he dragged them into midfield, chasing a fourth.
There's an Argentine soul in Gian Piero Gasperini's Roma. A soul that speaks the language of talent, grit, personality. And above all, numbers.
Five protagonists and a very high percentage of incisiveness: the numbers
Roma have contributed 16 of their 27 goals in their first 11 competitive matches. With 7 goals and 9 assists, nearly 60% of the Giallorossi's goals have been directly or indirectly scored by the Albiceleste.
Paulo Dybala is the orchestra conductor: four assists, four strokes of class. Matias Soulé is the man of creativity and concreteness: three goals and three assists. Then there's Leonardo Balerdi , a defender with a knack for scoring, who has already scored twice. Nahuel Molina provides pace and quality, with a goal and an assist. And Santiago Castro , a talented and combative center forward, who despite limited space, broke the deadlock against Genoa in the last two games and then assisted Balerdi with a close-range finish to temporarily tie the game at 2-2.
Technique, temperament, pride, and a hunger for victory. Five distinct players, one footballing identity. Gasperini's Roma has many souls, but the Argentine side seems to have something extra: the ability to ignite the team in decisive moments.
