Claudio Ranieri Offers Cryptic Response on Roma Transfer Plans | OneFootball

Roma head coach Claudio Ranieri remains coy on the club’s plans for the January transfer window’s finale. Talking to TMW after Sunday’s come-from-behind 2-1 Serie A win at Udinese, the veteran manager admitted he doesn’t care about speculation and only focuses on his current crop.

Despite trailing 1-0 at halftime, Roma turned the game at the Bluenergy Stadium on its head, courtesy of two second-half penalties. Lorenzo Pellegrini and Artem Dovbyk made no mistake from the spot, helping the Giallorossi bounce back from a dismal 1-0 defeat at AZ Alkmaar in midweek Europa League action.

Reports quizzed Ranieri about the club’s potential transfer activity down the final stretch of January. However, the Roma tactician provided a diplomatic answer.

“No thoughts about the market,” Ranieri said. “As long as I’m here, the players are mine. Udinese is different from AZ Alkmaar; I thought Shomurodov would be useful here. If there’s an opportunity to improve, I follow the club’s lead, but he’s a serious professional, and I’m happy with him.”

Meanwhile, winter signing Devyne Rensch made his Roma debut in Udine, starting on the right wing at the expense of long-serving stalwart Zeki Celik. Ranieri praised the former Ajax star in the aftermath.

“I already know what he can give us,” he stated. “His teammates will need to get to know him, but for me, his performance today was positive.“

Beating Udinese saw Roma move within a six-point distance of sixth-placed Fiorentina, reigniting the club’s hopes of securing European football.