Ex-England manager criticizes club’s transfer strategy following Leeds United’s double signing

After signing Leeds United duo Diego Llorente and Rasmus Kristensen on loan during the summer transfer window, former England manager Fabio Capello believes Serie A club AS Roma have signed too many players with a’significant’ injury history.

The veteran Italian coach led Roma to the Serie A title in 2001, but he believes their transfer plan this season has led them astray. Nonetheless, Capello believes in veteran manager Jose Mourinho’s ability to turn things around.

Roma are eighth in Italy’s top division, but that hasn’t stopped Capello from commenting on the club’s summer business, which included the loan signings of Llorente and Kristensen from Leeds.

“It’s no surprise that Roma have gambled on several players with significant transfer histories,” the 77-year-old told Gazzetta dello Sport. “For now, they do not have the right numbers [in the squad] because this lottery has not brought the results they hoped.”

Aside from the Leeds loanees, Roma signed Renato Sanches from PSG and Paulo Dybala from Juventus this summer, both of whom have spent time on the sidelines due to injuries in their careers.

Meanwhile, Llorente has missed two games this season due to a hamstring injury but has pushed his way into a starting spot under Mourinho. Historically, the Spaniard struggled during his first season in England, missing a significant portion of Leeds’ 2020/21 campaign.

Kristensen has made one more appearance but played fewer minutes after falling out of favor, and he will not play in Roma’s Europa League matches owing to Financial Fair Play regulations that prevent I Giallorossi from fielding a complete squad.

According to the Italian press, Leeds’ on-loan contingent has been readily available at Stadio Olimpico for the most part, albeit neither has been standout players. Llorente is set to sign a permanent deal with the Italian capital club, but Kristensen’s future is uncertain as long as he is not in the starting XI.

“He must be [the right man for the job].” “Having been in many situations throughout his career will help him emerge from a difficult situation,” Capello said of Mourinho.