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Cristante could return in the No.10 role as Gasperini weighs options against Napoli
·22 October 2026·5d ago

Cristante could return in the No.10 role as Gasperini weighs options against Napoli

Source: Forza Roma

Bryan Cristante is reportedly close to a return to a more advanced role behind the strikers for Roma, with Gian Piero Gasperini considering using him as an extra option in the trequarti as the club continues to struggle with injuries. The move would see Cristante operate in the position behind the front men in a 3-4-1-2, a role he could share with Niccolò Pisilli.

The idea would mark a return to a formation Gasperini used in previous meetings with Milan, when Massimiliano Allegri's side lined up with a back three. In the reverse fixture on 25 January, Gasperini, having Donyell Malen available, deployed Matías Soulé behind the centre-forward and Paulo Dybala, a display that gave Roma plenty of the play but ended in a 1-1 draw. The opponent has changed, but the thinking has not. Milan have since switched from a back three to a 4-3-3 under Allegri, but against a flat back four Gasperini has often played a trequartista, and the same approach is not ruled out against Napoli.

The key message for supporters is that the trequarti role is firmly on the table for the coming fixture, with Cristante the likeliest option to fill it. Gasperini has used the flexibility of the system to adjust his attacking shape, and the change would give Roma an additional creative presence between the midfield and the front line.

● AI Generated Summary

This summary was generated by an AI model. Always read the source for complete and accurate information.

Testo Originale / Source Text

“È più di un’ipotesi l’avanzamento di Cristante, dunque, dietro le punte nel 3-4-1-2, senza stare a guardare il sistema di gioco scelto da Allegri che schierò i rossoneri con la difesa a tre (stessa formula pure al ritorno - il 25 gennaio - per Max e anche per Gian Piero che, avendo Malen in più,…”

Read the full article in Italian at Forza Roma.

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